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 6 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 about life in Belgium Flanders.
Students are placed throughout Belgium Flanders. Most placements (approx. 60%) are in suburban areas. 30% are classified as urban placements and the remaining 10% are rural.
The ability to speak Dutch is not a prerequisite for the program but we strongly suggest that you learn as much as possible prior to departure. You will also have language lessons during your year in Belgium Flanders.
Applicants who require a wheat-free diet will be difficult to place and may not be accepted.
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 will need a student visa to enter and reside in your host country.
The visa application process for Belgium Flanders is detailed, time-consuming, and costly. It involves collecting a number of documents including a background check by local police, a statement of good health from your physician, a parental consent form, and official academic transcripts (transcripts must be notarized and legalized with apostilles), among other documents.
The current visa fee ranges between $40-$100, not including 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 Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the center of the European Union government, collect your baggage and pass through customs. You will be met by AFS staff and volunteers and will participate in a welcome orientation together. At the conclusion of the orientation, your host family will pick you up by car.
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.
The first orientation will take place upon your arrival in Vaalbeek. This will be a 4 day orientation that is intended to prepare you for your first weeks abroad. This will be an international orientation and your opportunity to meet participants from around the world. In addition to covering the rules and safety tips, there will be an emphasis on approaching your experience from an intercultural learning perspective.
About 10 weeks in to your stay, you will have another orientation, once again organized at the national level and held outside of Vaalbeek. This will last for 2 days and will focus on cultural and school adjustment. You will also meet with AFS staff and volunteers to evaluate your first few weeks and be offered guidance to make the transition as smooth as possible.
If you are participating in a year program, you will also be offered a 2 day mid-stay orientation about 5 months in to your stay. Once again, this will be a time to meet with staff and volunteers, evaluate the first part of your experience, and gain more tips to aid your cultural adjustment.
Finally, there will be an evaluation camp in the weeks prior to departure. This is your chance to reflect on your experience and to share with other AFSers. You will also prepare for the cultural readjustment that is a part of returning home.
In addition to the orientations, many local chapters organize activities for students and host families throughout the year. These will vary from chapter to chapter but may include parties or excursions to other cities or regions in Belgium Flanders. Unlike the orientations, these activities are optional and are at the student’s expense.
These required orientations are intended to help you maximize the AFS experience, prevent culture shock and to gain knowledge, skills and a global understanding.