What are the requirements for foreign exchange?
Accepted students must be younger than 18 years and 6 months of age by September 1st. FE students who have completed their secondary education in their home school/country are not eligible for participation. Accepted students will be placed in 11th grade or below, based on their transcript information.
Host Family Requirements
Exercise supervisory and parental responsibility to ensure the student's well being. Provide a quiet place in the home where the student can study. Provide a room with an exit window, bed, and storage with no more than one roommate of the same sex. Provide three meals per day.
A valid passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. Some countries may allow you to enter with only a birth certificate, or with a birth certificate and a driver's license.
Host Families can receive a monthly stipend of $1,000* (Varies by state) to assist with their expenses. Boost your monthly stipend and earn other rewards by referring qualified host families matched with a student.
You can expect to pay about $600 per week for an exchange program. Add to that the cost of your travel, which can be equal to the cost of the exchange itself, your visa expenses (if any), and insurance. You'll also need some pocket money and may have to pay for some meals.
For students who come on an F-1 Visa program, yes families do receive a monthly stipend for hosting an exchange student. The stipend varies based on the location of the family and the program. If the student is part of a J-1 Visa program it is all voluntary and families do not receive a stipend but a tax exemption.
Cumulative GPA at least 2.5; some programs have higher requirements. Study abroad plans must align with your intended major/degree.
All U.S. citizens need U.S. passport books if re-entering by air. Land and sea border crossings accept additional travel documents, such as U.S. Passport cards and Trusted Traveler cards.
If you want to be an exchange student, you need to contact a sponsor organization in the United States. Sponsors are companies that have been approved by the U.S. government to find a school for exchange students and place them with host families.
A passport is required for overseas travel. It is recommended to make a copy of your passport and put it in a separate place.
What does a host family have to provide?
Host families are required to provide the students with a safe and comfortable place to live, sleep and study, as well as provide them with three meals a day.
An exchange student typically stays in the host country for a period of 6 to 12 months; however, exchange students may opt to stay for one semester at a time. International students or those on study abroad programs may stay in the host country for several years.
- Reach out to ICES to start the process. ...
- Step 1: Complete a host family application. ...
- Step 2: Submit to a criminal background check. ...
- Step 3: Receive an in-home visit. ...
- Step 4: Select your exchange student. ...
- Step 5: ICES obtains acceptance at your local high school.
The short answer is no, host families typically don't receive direct payment for hosting. However, being part of a study abroad program isn't really about financial gain; rather, it's an opportunity to share your home and culture, fostering cross-cultural understanding and enriching your life in the process.
The main difference between an exchange program and a study abroad program is that exchange students do not pay tuition fees to the exchange institution, whereas study abroad students pay tuition fees to the host university.
No body warns you just how fast the time will go – and if they do, you do not listen. No body tells you that being an exchange student will be one of the hardest things you ever do. Learning to completely adapt to a new country, new language, new school, new family. Everyday presents a new challenge.
Will I get paid? A: Host families are volunteers who provide room & board and loving parental guidance to an exchange student. ICES students come with medical insurance and spending money to cover all personal expenses, including school/sports fees, clothing, entertainment, phone, toiletries, etc.
No. If you can't afford to pay for it yourself then you don't buy it. They are your hosts, their job is to (presummably) make sure you have somewhere safe to live while you're their guest, feed you and other small tasks that I am unsure of.
You will not receive compensation as a volunteer host family. The U.S. Government does appreciate your commitment to international exchange, however, and you can claim a flat $50 per month tax deduction as an American host family for the coming tax year.
Choosing to study abroad as a junior is the most popular time to study abroad in college, and many universities recommend taking this route. Because of this, schools often build their international programs to occur during students' third year, making the process easier for you.
Can a US citizen be an exchange student?
The U.S. Department of State offers many programs for American citizens wishing to go abroad for cultural, educational, or professional exchange. This website provides the information you need to get started.
Most programs require at least a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), but some programs out there that do accept lower GPAs! The best way to find out the requirements for your desired program is to visit your study abroad office or speak to advisors who can help you.
Yes, it is legal to travel with two passports in most countries. However, there are a few things to keep in mind: You should always check the entry and exit requirements of the countries you are visiting in advance.
| Document | Form Filler | Application Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Passport Book | DS-82 | $130 |
| Passport Card | DS-82 | $30 |
| Passport Book & Card | DS-82 | $160 |
In a nutshell, U.S. and Canadian citizens older than 16 years old have to show a passport, passport card or another accepted document to cross back into the U.S. Children under 16 may show an original or copy of their birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate, a Canadian ...
