Is the AFS Network and AFS-USA hosting Exchange Students in the 2020-21 academic year?

Updated

Yes, AFS-USA is hosting a limited number of exchange participants in the 2020-21 Academic Year.

AFS International has established organizational criteria that must be met before any students can embark on a physical exchange. In the case of the US, within these criteria, the viability of placements will be determined on a state by state, rather than on a national, basis. A decision regarding whether or not a participant has been approved for travel is generally made by AFS International approximately 30 days before the planned arrival date. (Note: For the 2021-22 Academic Year (NH21), the criteria to be used for program approval is still being determined.)

These criteria include:

  • The current state of the outbreak in each state where we have hosting placements using data about positive testing numbers.
  • Governmental and medical infrastructure for dealing with the current case numbers.
  • Immigration and visa issues.
  • Airline restrictions.
  • Status of schools.
  • Social/ daily life implications.
  • Host family capacity.
  • AFS support capabilities.

Because of the constantly changing global environment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, this year requires a heightened level of adaptability, comfort with uncertainty, and patience from all of us.