Other important information

AFS is authorized to act on behalf of parents, guardians or legal guardians in the event of an emergency, accident or illness (see Form 6 Parental Authorization Form in the online application). Without acknowledging any legal liability, AFS has been covering medical expenses up to a maximum of US$1,000,000 since 1991. However, AFS does not cover costs for dental or vision care, preventive medicine, immunizations or pre-existing conditions of the student.

AFS does not pay for medical expenses incurred by the participant after they return home, whether or not they are related to conditions that arose during participation in the AFS program. We encourage parents to take out private medical insurance if their child has a pre-existing medical condition, vision problems or needs dental care.

Note :
It is very important that you notify your provincial health insurance agency of your child’s departure date and return date. (RAMQ)
Parents who purchase private medical or dental insurance must inform the insurance company of their child’s participation in the AFS program.

Read the brochure about AFS insurance.

AFS Medical Pamphlet – 2022-2023

AFS participants are subject to the laws of their host country and community. Neither AFS nor the Canadian government can protect Canadian individuals from the consequences of their illegal activities. In the event that legal proceedings are brought against the participant, the participant, his or her natural parents or legal guardian will be liable for legal fees.

Since education is under provincial jurisdiction, regulations regarding equivalency vary from province to province. To obtain answers to your questions, we suggest that you contact your school board or your child’s school. However, we strongly advise students to:

• Do the tests;
• Keep a description of their courses;
• Ask the host school to certify their marks by affixing the school’s official seal or stamp to all transcripts they bring with them.

These documents will be very useful when it comes to judging equivalencies, if necessary.

AFS Interculture Canada guarantees the round trip to the host country, provided that participants remain there for the duration of the program as established by AFS. Participants and their natural parents agree to abide by the departure and return dates, travel arrangements, mode of transportation and itinerary established by AFS.

Whenever possible, we arrange for participants to travel together from the same airport to the same destination. Direct flights are not always possible, so journeys with stopovers are often unavoidable. We will give you your child’s electronic ticket when payments are completed.
For participants in year programs: AFS cannot book the return flight with the initial purchase of the ticket because airlines do not offer them 1 year in advance. We will then make the change and give you the pre-established return details. Your child will also be informed by AFS.

AFS does not allow independent return travel from the host country to Canada without the specific consent of AFS and the written consent of the participant’s natural parents. In these cases, participants and their natural parents or legal guardian will be responsible for the cost of travel between their place of residence and the points of departure and return to Canada, as established by AFS policies.

While abroad, the participant is restricted in his or her independent travel. They must discuss this with their host family, their AFS counsellor and also obtain the authorization of AFS in their host country, which will seek the authorization of natural parents through AFS Interculture Canada. In general, participants do not travel alone until they have spent at least 6 months in the host country and should not miss school.

Visiting relatives and friends is strongly discouraged during the stay.

Due to the validity of visas, it is often impossible to stay in the host country after the AFS program. In some countries, however, it is possible to do so as long as your natural parents pick you up in person and the various parties agree in advance on the details. Natural parents must obtain and sign an official release from the program. AFS will thus be released from any liability towards the participant. Natural parents will also be responsible for all costs of changing or replacing the flight ticket.

When a problem arises with a student, natural parents are often the first to detect it. If you think something is wrong, it is important that you inform the AFS office in Montreal so that we can contact your child’s counsellor in the host country.

Sometimes teenagers try to endure more than they are able to endure or they try to solve a difficult problem themselves. If you feel your child is having difficulty, encourage them to contact AFS volunteers. In this way, your child will take a step forward in the development of his or her sense of responsibility and autonomy.

The AFS network is committed to finding host families for all students. Once this step is completed, you will receive the contact information for your child’s family.

Some placements may take longer to obtain if the host country has difficulty finding a suitable host family for a student. On these occasions, some countries will use temporary families to allow students to arrive on time. In general, students are placed with their permanent families shortly after arrival.

AFS is looking for the families that will best suit certain students. When conflicts arise between a student and his or her host family, we encourage them to try to resolve their differences. However, if the situation is unpleasant, we prefer that the student move from the family environment. We are really trying to keep the student in the same school to avoid that he still has to make adjustments.

AFS Interculture Canada considers the host family and the school as the most important parts of the program. For this reason, the student must restrict travel other than with the host family or the school to weekends, holidays and vacations.

It is often difficult to find a school that accepts foreign students. If the participant does not take the school seriously, the school will not feel obliged to keep him/her and may even refuse a future student. A participant who accumulates non-reasoned absences may be expelled from the program.

From experience, telephone calls have often disrupted the student’s adjustment process despite the good intentions of family and friends. Please note that the host family is not responsible for paying for the student’s long distance calls to friends and family.

Parents, relatives and friends should not plan to visit the student during their stay. We strongly advise against visits from the participant’s family and friends during the AFS year. These visits can be stressful and confusing for the student who will have to take care of two families at the same time. Foster family members are also in a difficult situation because of the presence of the student’s natural family; they may feel obliged to receive visitors whom they have not necessarily invited. In our experience, we believe that such visits disrupt the exchange.

AFS Interculture Canada considers the host family and the school as the most important parts of the program. For this reason, the student must restrict travel other than with the host family or the school to weekends, holidays and vacations.

It is often difficult to find a school that accepts foreign students. If the participant does not take the school seriously, the school will not feel obliged to keep him/her and may even refuse a future student. A participant who accumulates non-reasoned absences may be expelled from the program.