Eligibility
Program Description
Visa and Travel Documents
Getting There
AFS Orientations and Activities
Eligibility
To be eligible you must:
- Be between 16 years 0 months and 18 years 5 months old at the start of the program
- Have a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
- Be in good mental, physical, and emotional health in accordance with the AFS Medical Evaluation Policy
- Have an open mind, willingness to be flexible, and the ability to adapt to new a culture, school, and environment
Program Description
As with all AFS high school programs, you will be placed with a volunteer host family while attending a local host school. Learn more about life in Switzerland .
Students are placed throughout the Switzerland and 90% of host families have animals.
The ability to speak German is not a prerequisite for the program but we strongly suggest that you learn as much as possible prior to departure.
Vegetarians can be most easily placed in the German region of Switzerland and can be more difficult in other areas. Flexibility will be a great asset to helping place participants.
Visa and Travel Documents
In order to participate in this program, you must have a U.S. passport that is valid for six months longer than your intended stay.
In addition to your passport, you also need a student visa and a Resident Permit to enter and reside in your host country.
The visa application process for Switzerland is detailed, time-consuming, and costly. It involves collecting a number of documents and needs to be begun early.
The visa processing and related fees are your responsibility and direct visa fees do not include the cost of obtaining, translating, notarizing, and mailing the required documents. Please note that these fees and requirements are determined by the consulates and are subject to change.
AFS USA will provide you with detailed visa application instructions in the months prior to your departure.
Getting There
You and your fellow AFSers will travel together from one of the gateway cities in the United States. You all will arrive in Zurich, collect your baggage and pass through customs. You will be met by AFS staff and volunteers and will participate in a welcome orientation together. You will then travel to your host community. If your host family lives far away, you will travel by train to your host community.
AFS Orientations and Activities
AFS will provide you with several orientations throughout your experience. These orientations give you a chance to gather important information about your host country, to meet other AFS teens from around the world, to share experiences and make friends. These group activities give you a chance to understand and process your intercultural learning experience during your time abroad as well as when you are returning home.
These required orientations are intended to help you maximize the AFS experience, prevent culture shock and to gain knowledge, skills and a global understanding.
Some local chapters may organize special events, activities and trips for your enjoyment. During the year they will probably organize fundraising drives to help pay for some of your school-related expenses.
There will also be an exchange week, when you will have a chance to live in another place in the same language area for one week and meet other AFSers from the same region.
