From all of us on the National Council, thank you for everything you are doing to assist AFS students, families, staff, and each other during this unprecedented time in the history of AFS, our country, and the world.
The following message was sent to AFS-USA school contacts regarding core hosted student’s shortened programs.
There are three critically important issues that warrant my addressing you directly about: Program Terminations, Visas, and the return of students to Italy.
Monday night, Tara Hofmann informed all of you about the decision to shorten the programs of currently hosted students in the US, aside from FLEX and YES Sponsored Programs students. This message is an update on our planned next steps.
A message from AFS-USA President and CEO Tara Boyce-Hofmann to all current students on Year and Semester programs and their host families.
The following message was sent to all host families and students (Core program only, not including YES and FLEX) to clarify information concerning the change in length of their AFS program.
As you probably know, AFS is a designated sponsor and must strictly adhere to and be compliant with the US Department of State Exchange Visitor regulations. It was necessary to consult with the Department of State, and now that we have completed consultation, we are announcing the decision to shorten AFS programs in the United States.
AFS is implementing a coordinated plan to bring home sending participants where possible and safe. We are prioritizing how we work based upon the situations in each country, and in some cases regions of a country, logistics, and availability of travel.
The AFS program is ending early in an increasing number of countries, and others will follow. We are communicating directly with the AFS students in the US whose home AFS organizations have decided to have them return home.
During the past several weeks, AFS has shortened programs in several countries, and students have returned home. Despite what you may have heard, nothing has been decided about AFS-USA’s hosting program in the United States.