Guidelines for All Types of Travel
All AFS student travel must be in accordance with these guidelines:
- AFS Participants will not be allowed to travel independently until after they have been on the program for five months or are in the final month of their program.
- Host family must first approve travel plans.
- If host family has approved the travel plans the participant must then get the approval of the Volunteer Team Support Coordinator or other designated volunteer in his or her region.
- Travel must also be approved by the AFS-USA staff in the national office.
- Travel does not interfere with school (unless a participant travels on a school-organized activity)
- Travel does not interfere with attendance at compulsory AFS events. This includes school-sponsored travel
- Travel does not interfere with host family plans to pursue activities with a participant, especially holiday plans
- Travel does not interfere with the participant’s adaptation or integration. Travel will not be allowed if a participant is experiencing adaptation problems of any kind. Frequent travel does not encourage integration in the host family and host community. Approval for travel may be denied if a participant has traveled recently or on previous trips.
- Travel does not exceed 10 days.
- Travel does not violate AFS safety guidelines.
- Travel to Mexico is strictly prohibited in states listed in the Department of State DO NOT TRAVEL Advisory list (Level 4 threat). All other requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. See Department of State – Mexico Travel Advisory. NO crossing the border into Mexico without prior AFS approval. Due to the great risks currently associated with crossing the Mexico border without an AFS Representative or host family parent, AFS-USA will enforce a strict "no tolerance" policy for any student who violates this guideline and crosses the Mexican border for any reason without prior AFS approval. Students who cross the border without written permission from the ATSC or other designated Team representatives are subject to an immediate early return from the AFS Program.