Consult the regulations and guidelines adopted by AFS over the years to ensure the safety and physical and psychological health of participants and the families who host them.
The basic rules of AFS
These regulations are of paramount importance as they are directly linked to the student’s safety and AFS’s legal responsibility.
A violation of any of these rules constitutes sufficient grounds for immediate early return.
1. Hitchhiking is prohibited;
2. Drug use is prohibited (except for medical purposes);
3. Driving a motor vehicle is prohibited*;
*no exceptions for the following vehicles: car, truck, motorcycle, scooter, moped, airplane, tractor on a public road.
4. Compliance with the travel policy;
5. Respect for the laws and customs of the host country;
6. No visits from family or friends;
7. Return to the country of origin at the end of the AFS program.
Travel policy
Travel is an important source of learning and enjoyment. However, it can also increase the risk of accidents and jeopardize the health and safety of participants. This policy of AFS Interculture France allows students, host families, and local committees to make consistent and fair decisions for all participating students.
AFS Interculture France reserves the right to refuse authorization for a trip.
What is considered a trip? Any absence of the international student from their usual place of residence that involves an overnight stay away from home.
Travel with AFS
An AFS trip is a trip that has been authorized by an AFS employee. No other authorization is required.
Family trip
AFS considers a trip with a host family to mean that at least one family member (parents or siblings) is of legal age.
Within France
Required Authorizations:
- School
- Local Committee
Procedures:
- The participant must obtain authorization from the local AFS committee (or from AFS Interculture Canada if there is no committee).
- They must have the travel authorization request signed and submit it to the local committee. Host parents must ensure they have the school’s approval.
- The participant and their family must provide the local volunteer with a phone number where they can be contacted in case of emergency.
Outside of France
Required Authorizations:
- School
- Local Committee
- AFS Interculture France
- Birth Parents
Procedures:
- The application must be submitted to the local volunteer committee at least 3 weeks before the planned departure.
- The participant must obtain authorization from the local AFS committee (or from AFS Interculture Canada if there is no committee).
- They must have the travel authorization request signed and submit it to the local committee.
- Host parents must ensure they have the school’s approval.
- The local volunteer informs AFS Interculture Canada and provides them with the travel details.
- AFS Interculture Canada informs the AFS office in the student’s country of origin and requests that they obtain the consent of the birth parents.
- The parents must give their consent and sign a document.
- It is the responsibility of the participant and/or their biological parents to ensure they have the necessary authorizations (visa, passport) to enter the country visited and return to Canada.
School trip
Within France
Required Authorizations:
- Host Family
- Local Committee
Procedures:
- The participant must obtain authorization from their host family and the local AFS committee (or AFS Interculture France if there is no committee).
- They must have the travel authorization request signed and submit it to the local committee.
Outside France
Required Authorizations:
- Host Family
- Local Committee
- AFS Interculture France
- Birth Parents
Procedures:
- The request must be submitted to the local volunteer committee at least 3 weeks before the planned departure.
- The participant must obtain authorization from their host family and the local AFS committee (or AFS Interculture France if there is no committee).
- They must have the travel authorization request signed and submit it to the local committee. The local volunteer informs AFS Interculture Canada and provides them with the trip details. AFS Interculture Canada then informs the AFS office in the student’s country of origin and requests that they obtain the consent of the biological parents. The parents must give their consent and sign a document.
- It is the responsibility of the participant and/or their biological parents to ensure they have the necessary authorizations (visa, passport) to enter the country being visited and return to Canada.
Individual travel
Required Authorizations:
- Host Family
- Local Committee
- School
- AFS Interculture France
- Birth Parents
Procedures:
- Travel other than with a host family, school, or AFS is not normally permitted before January.
- The request must be submitted at least 3 weeks before the planned travel date.
- The participant MUST obtain the agreement of their host family and the local AFS committee (or AFS Interculture Canada if there is no committee).
- Host parents must ensure they have the school’s approval.
- The host family must ensure that the location where their child will be staying is safe and clean.
- The participant must have the travel authorization request signed, clearly outline their travel plan, and submit it to the local committee.
- The request is submitted to AFS Interculture Canada if approved by the local committee.
If the application is accepted, AFS Interculture Canada will notify the AFS office in the participant’s country of origin and request that they obtain the consent of the biological parents. The parents will be required to sign a document.
IMPORTANT NOTES
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Traveling without the required authorizations voids the participant’s AFS insurance coverage and results in an early return to their home country.
- Travel must never prevent an AFS student from participating in mandatory AFS-organized activities.
- School absences due to travel should be exceptional. It is important to remember that AFS participants are required to be enrolled in school as full-time students, regardless of whether they require grades at the end of the year. If a student is absent from school, the host parents must provide the explanation themselves to the school. AFS allows a reasonable number of absences, specifically fewer than 10 days.
- In accordance with the participation agreement signed by the participant and their family before departure, travel with family (parents, uncles, cousins) or friends from the home country is not permitted during the AFS program. Nor are trips outside Canada to visit family members or friends.
- AFS Interculture Canada recognizes that, for participants, travel is an opportunity to expand their knowledge of their host country. However, it is important to remember that it is primarily through immersion in a host family and school that participants learn about their host country. The AFS experience is not a year of travel.
Advice
Travel abroad with your participant (outside the United States): Please ensure your student has a multiple-entry visa; otherwise, they may encounter problems upon returning to Canada. If you are unsure, please contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada at www.cic.gc.ca.
Travel to the United States: If you are unsure whether your student needs a visa to enter the U.S., please refer to the website: https://www.dhs.gov/visa-waiver-program-requirements. There you will find a list of countries whose citizens do not require a visa. You can also visit: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/. Ensure that the student has both a valid passport and student visa with them when travelling.
Visit from family or friends
In accordance with AFS policies and considering the participants’ adjustment period, AFS Interculture Canada strongly discourages any visits during the program.
Indeed, the arrival of a visitor can negatively impact the participant’s experience and disrupt their integration into life in France, as it rekindles their values and ties to their host country.
For the host family, this visit can diminish the impact of their parental role and create confusion in the relationship. Furthermore, the visit can shift the participant’s focus and place additional burdens on both the support structure offered by volunteers and staff, and the host family (hospitality, availability, etc.).
If the host family insists, the following rules must be followed:
- The visit must be approved by the host family, the local committee, and the AFS Interculture Canada office.
- The request must be made at least three weeks before the planned visit. The participant or their family must provide details of the visit.
- The visit cannot exceed four days.
- Visits are only permitted between February and May (therefore, they are not allowed during the first five months or the last month of the program).
- The participant may not miss any school days to spend time or travel with their parents.
- The family or friends must arrange accommodation other than with the host family, unless the host family has formally invited them. AFS Interculture France reserves the right to refuse the visit if the student experiences difficulties adapting or exhibiting behavioral problems at the time of the scheduled visit.
- If the participant plans to travel with their parents (without missing school), the trip must be approved like any other individual trip (please refer to this section for more details). AFS Interculture Canada strongly suggests that parents not make any reservations until they have received approval from AFS Interculture Canada.
- A participant who withdraws from the program must also leave Canada immediately.
Respect for the laws and customs of the host country
Laws and regulations;
If a participant commits an illegal act (even if they have not yet been charged by the judicial authorities), is arrested, or accused of any crime, we ask the host family, the local volunteer, and the participant to contact the Executive Director immediately. This will allow us to provide further assistance to the participant and obtain legal advice if necessary to protect them. AFS participants must abide by the laws and regulations of their host country just like any other citizen. Depending on the seriousness of the offense and its consequences, an early return home may be considered.
Values and customs
Disregard for community values and repeated disrespect for customs deemed important may demonstrate an inability on the part of the participant to adapt and meet the requirements of the AFS program; the counselor and the local committee must carefully assess the situation and make decisions accordingly.
Religious beliefs and practices
The host family and the participant respect each other’s religious beliefs. The student has the right to practice their religion, and their family facilitates their access to places of worship. They may also accompany the family in their religious practices if they wish. The family must never insist that the student attend any religious services.
Alcohol consumption
AFS generally considers that laws cannot be broken, particularly with regard to the minimum legal age for alcohol consumption (19 years in the provinces and territories except in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec where the limit is set at 18 years and it is illegal everywhere in Canada to buy alcohol for a minor).
Sexual behaviour
AFS does not accept any illegal sexual practices or those based on abuse, coercion, and harassment.
Agression sexuelle
“Sexual assault is any sexual act, with or without physical contact, committed by an individual without the consent of the person targeted or, in some cases, particularly involving children, through emotional manipulation or blackmail.”
Since most participants are minors, involving them in a sexual relationship would be considered a criminal act subject to police investigation.
What may appear to be consent on the part of the AFS participant could, in fact, be a misunderstanding. AFS participants are in a vulnerable position during an intercultural experience because most, if not all, of their cultural reference points no longer apply to their new environment. Host parents, staff, and volunteers, on the other hand, are in positions of authority, control, and influence and, consequently, must not encourage any sexual behavior with the participant.
Without hesitation, anyone should immediately report any allegation or confirmation of inappropriate sexual behavior to the AFS Interculture Canada team.
Examples of behaviors considered sexual assault:
- Vulgar or suggestive verbal conduct
- Non-verbal conduct, which may also include the display or provision of suggestive objects such as, for example: obscene gestures, pornographic material, websites, posters, photos, written material, comics or drawings, exhibitionism, voyeurism
- Unwanted and inappropriate physical conduct. This may also include: touching, pinching, kissing, hugging without consent, intentional invasion of privacy, and any sexual activity using force or intimidation, frotteurism
- A consensual but inappropriate relationship between a participant and a person in a position of authority over them. Among other things, any consensual sexual relationship with a host family member, volunteer, or AFS employee is considered inappropriate.
- AFS Responsibilities in Cases of Sexual Assault
AFS must ensure that the participant’s emotional and physical support needs are met. If necessary, the participant will be seen as soon as possible by a medical service and a psychologist. Depending on the situation, AFS will also consult its legal services and contact the judicial authorities.
Hospital Families – If there is an allegation or confirmation of wrongdoing by a host family member, AFS must remove the participant from the home immediately.
AFS Volunteers – Any allegation made against an AFS volunteer will be thoroughly investigated. AFS will advise the volunteer to cease all communication with the participant and will ensure that the participant receives the necessary support.
Third Parties – Other people in the community may commit wrongdoing. If a participant is attacked by someone outside the AFS network, the participant must be accompanied to report the situation to the authorities. If the person is part of the school system, the school administration must be informed so that it can take appropriate action with the authorities.
AFS Participant – Any allegation of inappropriate sexual behavior against a participant must be reported to the staff or the Executive Director of AFS Interculture Canada, who will investigate and, if necessary, take action in accordance with the terms of the contract signed by the participant.
In all cases, the Executive Director of AFS Interculture France must be informed of the situation immediately and without hesitation.
Return home at the end of the trip
Participants must return to their country of origin according to the dates and itinerary set by AFS: this is a commitment made by AFS to the Canadian immigration authorities. Participants may not extend their stay in France under any circumstances. If a participant applies for a visa that includes a visa extension to travel with a biological parent, this may be granted.
For the student visa to remain valid, it must meet the requirements of the Canadian authorities; that is, the young person must attend school and remain under the legal responsibility of the Executive Director of AFS Canada. Participants with a waiver of responsibility do not meet immigration criteria and are considered illegal by the Canadian authorities. Failure to comply with this commitment may antagonize immigration services and jeopardize their cooperation with AFS.