We remain committed to welcoming students from the Class of 2021 this summer and are actively recruiting new and excited host families across the US. With many students choosing to defer their participation until next year, our current volume of students is undoubtably lower than anticipated, however these students remain committed and enthusiastic to experience life in America this year. Students, families and local coordinators should all expect that this program year will likely be different than past exchange years, with more virtual preparation, contact and engagement, the possibility of varying levels of distance learning, and the need to monitor and adhere to any local or federal guidelines or requirements for students and travelers. While we know this will be a unique program year, we continue to firmly believe in the mission of our program and the value it brings to our participants, our host communities and our world at large. We are incredibly appreciative of and humbled by the steadfast commitment of our volunteer host families whose support has been a steady presence this year and always.

At this time, the screening requirements for host families interested in hosting a student for the upcoming program year remain unchanged. Prior to finalizing any student placements, host families must be fully-screened and a signed high school enrollment must be submitted to our Compliance team. In some instances we may accept virtual interviews or video tours of the home as a preliminary screening measure, but an in-home person visit is required prior to student travel as in line with our program regulations. We recognize that this will likely cause a delay in the finalization of placements, however, we must first consider the federal and local restrictions to essential movement and social gatherings. We encourage International Exchange Coordinators (IECs) to have thorough and thoughtful conversations with any host family applicant, including topics that may typically be reserved for the in-home interview, such as discussing expectations for their student, attitudes of all family members towards hosting, and covering the financial obligations of host families. Additionally, our Compliance team will be working closely to ensure all other screening materials are submitted and reviewed in a timely manner.

All students must be able to pass any government required screening in their home country and upon arrival to the United States. If there are additional restrictions or requirements in their home country, they are expected to comply. EF will continue to carefully monitor developments with COVID-19. As we approach student travel dates, EF will require all exchange students and host families to report if they have experienced any flu-like symptoms and/or have come into contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, we ask that students practice social distancing and mask wearing, when possible, for at least 14 days prior to travel.
All program participants are expected to inform EF of COVID-19 exposure, illness or any other circumstances that may impact travel dates or program participation. We encourage all program participants to have an open and honest conversation about their health up to the arrival date and continue to refer to resources, such as the World Health Organization, as well as travel advisories in their local countries.

In the event that you or a family member is exposed to COVID-19 or tests positive for the virus, we ask that you be in touch with your IEC or an EF staff member to discuss next steps. Together we can outline a plan that works best for all involved while prioritizing the safety of our program participants.

In June 2020, President Trump signed an executive order limiting the issuance of visas to several different categories of visitors to our country. While this does impact some J-1 visa programs, our students are not affected by this decision and remain eligible to travel to the US. Travel restrictions remain in place for anyone who has been in the European Schengen zone or Brazil in the 14 days leading up to their arrival to the United States. This impacts many of our incoming students, except those from Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, or South Korea.
US embassies remain closed around the world, impacting all students’ abilities to obtain a visa. EF offices abroad are in regular communication with their local embassies for updates, and students are being encouraged to schedule the earliest available visa interview date. In some instances, students will be unable to travel in time for the first day of school. We remain in close contact with our local coordinators to evaluate individual school’s ability to accommodate a delayed start.

Embassy closures and travel bans present a unique challenge to our program, but our teams across the world are working together to closely monitor all developments and updates. Prior to finalizing travel, students will need to secure their visa and any applicable travel restrictions need to be lifted. Therefore, it is possible that many students will be unable to arrive in time for the first day of school. We will continue to provide any updates as they become available.

Many schools are making contingency plans for distance learning in the fall/winter, and all participants should be aware and comfortable with this possibility. During times when students will be learning from home, they will need a quiet place to work, access to the internet, and the support and encouragement from their host parents. Host parents are not expected to provide supplemental instruction or assistance. We strongly encourage proactive conversations between students and their host parents to set expectations around home structure and routine as part of your preparation process, particularly when distance learning measures are in place.

We have made the decision to transition our in-person preparation programs to an online platform. Within our exchange communities we will adhere to local and national safety measures for any group gatherings that would be typically held during the year.

Preparation: Traditionally, EF High School Exchange Year hosts Camp and Welcome Days programs in the New York area during the summer before students fly to their host families. These orientation programs help students adjust to life in America by reviewing what to expect throughout their exchange – from best practices for establishing positive relationships and sharing their culture, to addressing common struggles students my face such as homesickness and culture shock. The benefits both programs bring for our students are outweighed this year by the fact that this all occurs in large groups. Out of precaution for the safety of our program participants, and in response to guidelines around hosting large group gatherings, we made the difficult decision to not offer these programs during Summer 2020.
Instead, we have provided a robust online training program for our students to ensure that they are well prepared for their exchange, and to provide additional tools and resources for navigating time abroad during COVID-19. Examples of these topics include: adjusting to a new community and lifestyle, building a positive relationship with their host family, establishing a social network while respecting social distancing measures, and participating in academics through remote learning. These trainings have been further reinforced with live webchats hosted by staff and ambassadors.

On exchange: Each year, your IEC and other local coordinators may facilitate in-person events to bring the local exchange community together. For the 2020/2021 year, all group gatherings should follow state and local level regulations and recommendations surrounding social distancing. We are also evaluating virtual platforms and tools to relay updates and trainings throughout the year for our students.
EF traditionally offers a variety of travel opportunities to students and their host siblings via an “EF Discovery Tour”. We continue to monitor travel guidelines and restrictions to evaluate our offerings in the year ahead.

This upcoming exchange experience will likely look different than any other program year. We have expanded our student preparation efforts and resources to address those differences specifically. These learning opportunities include virtual meetings with US and overseas staff, online platforms with COVID-19 specific modules and individual outreach tailored by country. As the impacts of COVID-19 vary across the country and by community, we encourage you and your student(s) to have proactive conversations about expectations for in your home and in your community. Some suggested points to discuss include how you and your family may be social distancing, any health precautions you have implemented such as mask-wearing and increased hand-washing, and household expectations for time spent at home if remote learning is in place.