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FAQ
1. What does it mean to be A
AEF host family?
The most important quality we look for in a Host
Family is the genuine desire to open your home to
an international high school exchange student and
to treat your student as you would to a member of
your own family. All AEF Host Families believe in
the importance of cross-cultural exchange and are
eager to learn about other countries and cultures
as well as to share their American way of life with
their students. Host Families do not need to have
a teenager in their home to qualify. Qualities that
are sought in a Host Family are friendliness, warmth,
flexibility, and financial stability. The Host Family
must also have the means to provide rooms and amenities
for the student for the period of the student's
stay. The socio-economic or educational level of
the family is not as important as the family's willingness
to share and learn from their exchange student.
2. How long is the AEF Students
Exchange Program?
AEF exchange students live with the Host Family
and attend high school for a full, 10 month academic
year or for a 5 month semester program. All students
arrive approximately one week before school begins
and depart 7-10 days after the program ends. For
the full academic year students arrive in late August
and depart in June. The 5-month spring semester
students arrive in mid January and depart in June.
Our Hemisphere(?) Students arrive in January for
a full school year of January to January of the
following year. If the high school in your area
starts early or your family will be on vacation,
special arrangements can be made for the arrival
date of your student.
3. What will our students expect?
The exchange students who participate in the AEF
Students Exchange Program expect to be treated as
a member of your family. They have made the decision
to leave behind their own family and friends for
5 or 10 months to have the experience of living
with an American family and attending an American
Secondary School. The international students are
as diverse as the American families who host them.
Some are outgoing and gregarious; others are quiet
and shy. Like most teenagers around the world, they
are curious and inquisitive. They have come to the
U.S. to discover what the American way of life is
all about. They have also come as ambassadors from
their countries to share their way of life with
you. Your exchange student will expect you to communicate
with him/her about your values, and will also expect
you to listen when he/she tells you about the way
of life of his/her country.
4. Is the Host family the legal
sponsor for the student?
No. AEF is the legal sponsor for the student. As
a legal sponsor, AEF issues the documents necessary
for the student to obtain an exchange-visitor visa
to enter the United States and to participate in
the AEF students Exchange Program. AEF remains legally
responsible for the student for the duration of
the program. The Host Family does, however, have
permission to obtain medical treatment from a licensed
physician for the student when necessary. A medical
release signed by the biological parents is included
in the student's application.
5. Will our student have insurance
coverage?
Your exchange student is covered with medical/accident
insurance and will have an insurance card. Emergency
dental treatment is covered for relief of pain or
when damage to the teeth is caused by an accident.
Your student will have insurance information and
claim forms and they will bring all that information
with them.
6. May we allow our student
to travel on his/her own?
Your exchange student is not permitted to travel
outside the local area by himself/herself or with
peers. Overnight travel with Host Family, another
family, or a responsible adult is permitted if
prior consent is given by the Host Family and
Local Exchange Program Coordinator. Overnight
travel is also permitted with an approved group
(e.g. church, school, etc.). The Host Family and
the Local Exchange Program Coordinator must be
informed of all such trips and have a telephone
number of a responsible adult, in order to reach
the student in an emergency.
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