Hosting an International Student FAQs

Most students are between 14 and 18 years old and attend high school.

ICES works with foreign partners who perform the pre-screening of student applicants. Students are required to submit complete application materials including current medical records, at least one teacher recommendation, official academic transcripts, English proficiency exam results, an essay, and a questionnaire. Students participate in an interview with the partner agency to ensure a level of English proficiency that meets the majority of our high school’s enrollment criteria.

Our students are here on an academic, cultural exchange program. They must attend and participate in school full time and maintain a C average in all course work. Students are able to participate as a family member and are expected to follow host family rules, which can include performing family chores. ICES’s students are considered ambassadors for their countries; their attitudes and behaviors must reflect the highest standards set by our program.

Most of our students arrive in August for a 10-month academic stay, returning to their home country in June. About 25 percent of our students only come for a semester, which consists of a 5-month stay. Some semester-students arrive in August and stay until January and other students arrive in January and stay until June.

The rewards are many and are far too numerous to detail here. In short, family members will learn and grow with the experience of hosting a foreign exchange student. The goal of our program is for host families and students to share their cultures, customs and traditions, while building life-long friendships. Inevitably, families and students will learn the importance of direct communication and how the cultures of communication can vary. Over time, communication barriers will fall, and families and students will create a bond that will hopefully last for long after the end of the program.

Students come with full medical insurance during their program. Any expenses not covered by insurance are the responsibility of the student and their natural parents.

The student’s natural parents agree to send adequate spending money. This money should be enough for personal hygiene items, clothing, social activities, transportation, trips, school expenses, and telephone calls to their home country.

You are not obligated, but if your family is taking a vacation, you may include your exchange student. ICES can connect students with third-party organizations that facilitate travel opportunities for exchange students. Keep in mind that the ICES program is an academic program, and travel will only be permitted for students who are meeting their academic standards. Participation in these trips is the financial responsibility of the exchange student.

We also have students for one semester (five months), and in some cases, one to three months. Perhaps the family would feel more comfortable hosting as a “welcome family” (a family who commits only to a one month hosting experience until a permanent family can be found)

We have had many successful placements in single-parent or retired homes. It is just a matter of selecting a student who would fit well in this environment.

Our students are encouraged to be as independent as possible; many students are used to living in major cities and are accustomed to using public transportation. Transportation to and from school is not the host family’s responsibility. Your student may need transportation on weekends or for special school activities. If you are not able to provide this transportation, students can ask friends for rides.

Perhaps you would like to invite the student to join you? Many times the natural parents are happy to provide extra money for the student to accompany the host family. Alternatively, with sufficient notification, the student may stay with friends or relatives while you are away.

Most of our students are happy to share a room with a sibling of the same sex and within their age group. We do not encourage students to share a room with a child that is more than 2 years older or younger. Students cannot request their own, private bedroom in our program. However we are not comfortable forcing a student to share a bedroom against his/her will as this can lead to problems.

This is a common situation. Remember the student will be busy with studies and will be involved in extracurricular activities. Provided that you are clear about your house rules, the student does not need to be supervised 24 hours a day. Many exchange students come from families where both parents work, and hence they are comfortable with this type of environment.

Not every exchange experience works out perfectly. We provide materials, orientations, and resources to help ensure a good experience for all. Supervision and communication with your Local Coordinator will help prevent problems from escalating. If any problem becomes unmanageable, it will be dealt with immediately by the Local Coordinator and/or the ICES National Office. We are happy to connect prospective host families with other families in our network that have previously hosted for ICES.