AFS has been informed that the U.S. Department of State has cancelled NSLI-Y academic year in-country programming in China. AFS-USA informed students of this decision earlier today (11/24).

The decision was taken very seriously, and all program staff are saddened that no AFS NSLI-Y academic year participants will travel. As the students were informed in their notification, the U.S. Department of State made this decision in consultation with the U.S. embassy in China and with consideration for U.S. Department of State travel advisories, CDC guidance, logistical issues (availability of flights, visas, local medical conditions, and housing, as well as travel restrictions and quarantine rules), and our ability to implement a quality exchange experience.

While we know this is a great disappointment to students, and to everyone who volunteered their time as part of our recruitment and interview process efforts this past fall and winter, the AFS NSLI-Y academic year students, who began virtual programming in September, will have the option to continue for the full academic year. So far, that experience has been a successful and engaging one, if not the one we all would have wished for them.

AFS will continue to implement virtual programming for interested, current participants through June of 2021. Students were additionally encouraged to re-apply for NSLI-Y in the future (if eligible), and to consider applying for the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) during university.

If you are contacted by students or parents with questions or concerns, kindly direct them to contact the NSLI-Y program at AFS-USA  in reply to their program update notification email.

We would like to sincerely thank everyone who has worked on the NSLI-Y academic year program, especially those who participated in the NSLI-Y interviews project this past winter. We truly appreciate your hard work and commitment to the NSLI-Y program! Volunteers with questions may reach the NSLI-Y staff at AFS-USA at 646-751-2238 or NSLIforYouth@afsusa.org.

With warm regards,

Hannah, Melissa, and Allen

Hannah Stewart, NSLI-Y Specialist

Melissa Rossi, NSLI-Y Coordinator

Allen Evans, Manager, Outbound Sponsored Programs