Full Application Checklist

• Click on Upload Photo to upload a cover photo of your choice.
• This photo will be used to make an International Student ID Card for you.
• Please keep in mind that your cover photo is the first photograph your host family will see of you. The photo should be a picture of you from the shoulders up, similar to a school portrait.

• Make sure that all the fields are accurate and complete, especially those with an asterisk. If you do not yet have a valid passport, you should apply for one now. You can submit your AFS application without this, and provide a copy at a later date.
• Section 4 refers to your primary residence. Please choose a primary residence if your parents have joint custody and include the household members in this section. Section 6 should reflect your secondary residence.
• Section 10: Please indicate your program and country preference. Refer to our Study Abroad page to verify your eligibility and availability of your first-choice program.

• This form is an important part of the host family placement process. Please answer each question carefully and make sure that the answers are consistent with the rest of your application.
• We ask that you be as flexible as possible in regards to placement restrictions. Mark 'yes' only if these restrictions are not flexible. Do not include preferences as these will limit the host family candidate pool.
• Section 2: Make sure this section matches up with the information you submit on Form 3 (3A #4 and 3B #10). If you have allergies, please describe what you are allergic to, the severity, and whether you take any medication.
• Section 3: Dietary restrictions are challenging to accommodate and might keep you from participating in some programs. We ask that you be as flexible as possible regarding the foods you eat while abroad.
• If you have dietary restrictions, you must submit a Dietary Restriction Addendum Form. Note: Some countries cannot accept students with dietary restrictions. Call
  1-800-AFS-INFO for details.

These forms must be completed by a physician or a nurse.

Form 3A

• Question 1: All items in this line must be completed. You do not need your blood type to submit your application.
• Questions 2-9: Make sure all boxes are checked and that your information is clear and detailed. Include allergy or asthma information where indicated.

Form 3B

• Question 10-15: All questions must be answered. Don't forget to list any medications or restrictions in activity.
• Question 16: Immunizations must be written onto this form and cannot be provided in an attached document.
• All signatures are required on this form.
• Please have your doctor's office stamp this form at the bottom of the page.

Form 3C

• This form is only necessary if your doctor answered 'yes' to form 3b questions 11 or 12. If so, please ask your physician or therapist to complete the Form 3C.
• In addition to the form, you must also provide a statement regarding your condition, your full treatment history, and how you plan to adjust while abroad. A similar statement from your parents is also beneficial. Please refer to our Medical Evaluation Policy to determine if are in accordance with our standards for mental, physical and emotional health.

• Take special care when composing your letter to the host family. This is the first impression that your host family (and AFS staff and volunteers) will have of you so you want to put your best foot forward. Stay positive while being authentic.
• Be sure to format this as a letter. Proofread carefully and remember the audience to whom you are directing the letter.

• Upload 8-12 photos of you spending time with your family, your friends, and taking part in your favorite activities. Be sure to include short captions or descriptions of your photos.

• Please answer the questions in a typed one-page statement. Upload both the statement and the Parent Statement Form.
• Make sure the custody boxes are checked. Note that we may require additional documentation based on custodial status, see our Signature Guidelines for details.

• Read and sign the form then scan and upload it back into the application below.
• In the section that refers to the Kaleidoscope Project in the Authorization Form please make sure your parent(s)/guardian(s) do NOT initial in the box if they are comfortable with you participating in this project.
• In the section regarding promotional material, please note that student photos are very rarely used, and when they are, it's just on our website showing students who have gone on AFS programs, taking part in AFS activities. Photos will not be labeled with your name or details. You may object to your inclusion in such material but that would require you to excuse yourself from all group photos.

• All sections must be completed including school information, your cumulative GPA, class rank or quartile, and the foreign language assessment.
• Please provide your three most recent years of classes and grades. This includes middle school classes and grades if you are currently a Freshman or Sophomore. If you do not have grades for the current semester, please provide a list of classes you are taking.
• This form must be filled out and signed by a school official.
• If the form is given to you in a sealed envelope you should open it in order to verify that the Academic Record Form is signed and stamped. You may provide an unofficial transcript as a supplementary document.
• If you will be a high school graduate when your AFS program begins you must submit an Academic Commitment Form. Some high school programs cannot accept graduates. Refer to the Gap Year page for a list of programs for graduates.

• An in-home interview with a local AFS volunteer is an important part of the application process. This is a time for you and your parents to meet with a local volunteer, learn more about the program, and ask any questions you may have about the experience.
• You should contact the volunteer as you begin to work on your application and arrange for an interview around the time you will submit your application.
• The contact information of your local volunteer Interview Coordinator is sent to you once you begin working on your full application.

• Learn about covering your AFS tuition and the need-based scholarships we offer.

• This is a legally binding document. Please read it carefully before completing the top of page one and signing and dating page five. Only the completed first and last pages need to be uploaded to this section.
• Note that we may require additional documentation based on custodial status, see our Signature Guidelines for details.

• Please read the form carefully. Please write in your city or town on the Place line under the Date section.

• A letter of recommendation from an academic teacher or guidance counselor is required for all high school and academic programs (including Summer Language Study Programs).
• Give the form below to the person who will be writing your letter so they can use it as a guide. If the letter is given to you in a sealed envelope you should open it and upload the signed statement.

• You must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months past the end date of your AFS program. If you don’t, apply for a new passport or renew your current passport online or at the post office. The process takes 4-6 weeks, unless you expedite your passport for an additional fee.
• Some countries have lengthy and complicated visa processes, so we recommend avoiding any travel in the 2-3 months prior to your program.
• Upload a scanned copy of your passport photo and signature pages. Don't forget to sign your passport.
• If you do not yet have a passport, upload a copy of your passport application forms and receipt.

These Forms will only be released to you as needed:

Academic Commitment Form

• Academic Commitment Form for High School Graduates - Please complete this form if you will have graduated from high school before participating on an AFS Academic Program.

Dietary Restriction Form

• This form is required if you have any dietary restrictions; including for medical, religious or self-imposed reasons.
• Please include a detailed typed statement outlining what you will and will not eat. Be specific (e.g. if you can eat foods made with meat broth, or foods cooked with meat, etc.) and show flexibility in your requirements.
• Upload both the form and your typed statement explaining in detail the reasons for your dietary restrictions.