Dear AFS Volunteers,
As we welcome hundreds of incredible international students to the U.S. for the start of their exchange year, I am constantly reminded of the sheer heart, resilience, and commitment that define this community. Arrival season is always intense, but the past few days have put our collective strength to the test in very real ways.
Showing Up in the Storm
With our large first arrival wave last week (and into the weekend), we saw a significant number of canceled flights, re-bookings, and missed connections for our arriving students. While our staff and AFS partner offices were working around the clock and behind the scenes to solve complex airline logistics, support transits at key hub airports, provide rooms where students could overnight at transit airports, and reroute students safely, volunteers were on the front lines, stepping up to support and welcome students on the ground as well as comforting, informing, and calming host families.
Emergency logistics demand fast, behind-the-scenes action, and I want to say a huge thank you to our extraordinary volunteers and staff – who held the line in local communities across the country.
To everyone who offered a reassuring word, answered late-night phone calls, overnighted a student at their home, or stepped in to help handle the unexpected: thank you. Your tireless energy and steady presence during this challenge demonstrated the absolute best of the AFS spirit.
The Stakes Ahead: The August 31 Deadline
That same “can-do” grit is what we need right now as we face our single most critical operational priority: placing all remaining students with fully compliant host families by August 31.
We are operating in a landscape where international exchange programs continue to face added scrutiny and tightening regulatory requirements. On September 1, our final placement performance for this cycle must be reported directly to the U.S. Department of State.
This isn’t just an internal benchmark or a preference – it is a mandatory federal milestone.
Failing to place 100% of our students on time directly threatens our official visa sponsor designation. In short, our ability to continue bringing young people to the U.S. to transform their lives depends, in large part, on our performance over the next two weeks.
Our Final Push
Thanks to the dedicated work of volunteers and staff, we are in a position – for the first time in many years – to place all of our students by August 31. However, we know that securing host families and school placements for these final students is often the hardest part of the job, and it will take all of our collective effort to cross the finish line.
As of today, we have 22 unplaced students who have dreamed of this journey, and we know and agree that we owe it to them, and to the future of AFS-USA, to bring these students here with complete compliance and total commitment.
I know how hard everyone is working, and I know the fatigue that can set in during August. But I also know what this community of AFS-USA volunteers and staff is capable of when we pull together. As we’ve done before, let’s channel the same energy and problem-solving focus from recent travel challenges toward these final host family placements.
As always, I thank you for your unwavering dedication, your patience, and your deep care for our mission and our students. Let’s finish this placement season strong.
With deep gratitude and respect,
Tara Hofmann
President & CEO, AFS-USA