Euro J

Can you host a foreign exchange student that is your pen pal?

I have a friend that's from France. We really want to meet each other, so I was thinking of doing a foreign exchange program so we could see each other. So I'm wondering if you can host your friend from a different country in the foreign exchange student program. Can you?

Public Comments

1. It probably would benefit him or her, since he or she would know you. It would make adjusting to the country easier. However, you must qualify under the sponsoring program's rules and conditions.
2. Yes it's possible. Most exchange programs have what they all "direct placement". That means if you have friends or family in another country willing to host you -- you can go. Of course, both you and the family must qualify by the program standards. The top three programs are AFS, YFU and Rotary. I'm not sure that Rotary has a direct placement program, but the other two do.