Exchange Student Programs - SHOW ME THE MONEY!
This past month, my wife and I did something completely different by opening up our home to a foreign exchange student. In an effort to protect her identity, I won’t tell you which country she came from or her name. During a church gathering, the program’s area representative made a plea to our congregation for Host Families. The placement term would only be 1-month, which is the time given for the incoming students to get familiar with life in the United States before moving on to their long-term placement for the upcoming school year.
We were very fortunate in that our student reads English very well and can speak and understand well enough so we can have a basic conversation with her. While she has already completed her country’s equivalent of high school, she wanted to experience a year of high school here. Even with all the times I’ve told myself, “I should have taken those extra math courses”, there is absolutely NO way you could get me to return to high school even if only for a year. Those years were not pleasant and I’ve long since forgotten them.
During our student’s stay, we’ve done our best to think of activities and sights around us that she might enjoy doing and seeing. Unfortunately, both my wife and I work full-time and I’ve begun taking real estate courses 2 nights a week so our free time has been limited to the weekends. But hey, that’s the lifestyle for a lot of us, so “Welcome to America!”
So far, our student has been to the “cinema” to watch the Bourne Ultimatum and Hairspray; visited a popular science museum in nearby Charlotte; gone bowling; visited several malls and a skateboard shop in Greensboro (our student is into the skate attire); and of course no trip would be complete without a stop at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Here in Winston-Salem, NC we lay claim to being the birthplace and current headquarters of Krispy Kreme. Besides, RJReynolds Tobacco discontinued their cigarette plant tours years ago so that’s out.
You may say, “This sounds like a lot of fun for the visiting student and even the host family, so what’s up with the title of your post?” While we definitely enjoyed showing off our community, the extra effort we put forth was to make up for the blunders of ASSE - International Student Exchange Programs and to show our student that Americans don’t treat visitors this way (unless of course you’re yelling something about jihad). Giving high school students an opportunity to visit a foreign country for a year so they can better understand the culture is a fantastic idea. Unfortunately, most good ideas get tarnished when it becomes big business.
Per their website, ASSE charges $4,150 (USD) for a student from France to stay in the United States with a host family for a full school year. While that does cover health insurance during their stay, it does not include their roundtrip airfare or meals. According to the “A Message For Host Families” handbook distributed by ASSE, the Host Family is expected to furnish all meals eaten in the home and at restaurants as well as provide what’s needed for a brown bag school lunch. In other words, treat them as another one of your children. As an added note, exchange students are neither permitted to get a job or drive a vehicle while in the program. Sounds to me like we need to hook these kids up with the Amish.
Within about 2 weeks of our student arriving, ASSE terminated their contract with the ASSE Area Representative. In a phone call from the ASSE Area Coordinator, I was told that the reason was for “breach of contract.” Apparently, the Area Representative had convinced some families to take more than the allowed 2 students per home. ASSE also does not permit those students to be from the same country and that was not followed either. These actions resulted in complaints from the students to their parents back home and then eventually to ASSE. While I commend ASSE for acting so quickly, who screened this person for the job in the first place? If that wasn’t bad enough, the terminated employee got back at ASSE by canceling the planned group excursions that she had lined up. So other than watching an afternoon minor league baseball game during the middle of the heat wave gripping the Southeast, visiting Old Salem and our local mall, ASSE has had the kids spend every weekday morning in a class designed to better prepare them for their American school experience. And what do they do in class? “We cut out pictures from magazines and make collages. Your 5-year old could do it”, said our student.
With this key position now vacant, ASSE appoints one of the teachers from this stimulating morning class to be the new Area Representative. Now, I don’t know this lady from Adam, but anyone who claims to have teaching credentials and then pronounces the word “supposedly” as “suppose-ablee” (note the “b” instead of a “d”) twice in a paragraph when speaking at a host family meeting does not get my vote of confidence. Where does ASSE find these people?
As I’m writing this, it is the last week for our student and her fellow students here in Winston-Salem, NC and they will begin leaving this weekend for their new homes for the school year. I can only hope that ASSE does a better job of getting them set up in their assigned schools. From where I sit, I haven’t seen much of our student’s $4,150 leaving ASSE’s coffers to help make the experience one that will be positively remembered. If it wasn’t for the great American family stepping up to the plate once again, we’d have to outsource this experience too.
on August 23rd, 2007 at 8:55 am
Sounds as if ASSE took action against the employee before they completely thought through the ramifications for firing the individual. They should have let the person complete the responsibilities to the current group of students and then terminate them. I must admit, the whole program sounds fishy: charge a kid $4,150 to experience America, then have them stay with volunteer host families. Does a host family get any of this money? If a kid has pay for airfare, and meals are provided by the host family, what is the $4,150 for?
on August 23rd, 2007 at 10:59 am
The Host Family doesn’t see a dime. You are taking in the student as if they were your own. The only thing I know that ASSE has paid for other than their health insurance while in the States is my background check, a couple of bus rides for what few excursions they did have, and 2 teachers for the 30-day period. Being that there’s 25 students in this group, you can do the math and figure out there’s still quite a lot of change to account for.
There must be an easier, and cheaper, way to match up kids with host families. Maybe they should just walk in from Mexico. Then they could get a Social Security check and money for college while they’re here!
on August 23rd, 2007 at 11:37 am
Great Blog. ASSE told you that ASSE students come to the US for a month initially prior to be placed with a permanent family? This was Lie #1 by ASSE and a federal regulation which has been violated.
ASSE made a “plea” at church for host famiies? Another federal regulation violation.
Your complaints are too valid to go unnoticed. You must know that what these ASSE students encountered and your, as a host family have experienced, are not isolated incidents. It is a crime the way these visiting teens are treated in our country.
You’ll be interested to know more about the awesome efforts of the Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students. Contact this organization and please report your concerns to CSFES and the US Department of State.
Also, when visiting http://www.csfes.org, refer to News and Reports of Abuse and you will have a clear understanding why CSFES advocates so strongly for these students.
Again, terrific Blog. I’ll pass along to our volunteers. Take good care.
on August 23rd, 2007 at 11:53 am
I wasn’t even aware that such an organization existed, but I’m glad there is. I can also tell you based on my phone call with ASSE’s Area Coordinator that many of the children DO NOT have permanent host families secured before they depart their country of origin. She told me that they are working right up until the last minute recruiting families to take in the children they’ve brought over, and that most students will start school a week late. Great, new country, new family, new school and a week late. Gee, where do I sign up?
Now, I know from working in healthcare and having been a foster family that you cannot get a federal background check back in a few days. You can go to the county courthouse and have it checked on the spot but they only check for crimes committed in that county. My background check was turned in just “days” before our student arrived. I seriously doubt that my criminal record has even been returned to ASSE at this late date. In my opinion, someone needs to shut this group down!
I’ll consider contacting CSFES and make my student aware of the organization as well should she have any future problems with ASSE. I am concerned though that ASSE could cause her grief if they learn of our complaint.
on August 23rd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
You are very insightful. Student placement agencies repeatedly accept more students than there are host families available. Sadly, what happens is these poor kids get shuffled around from home to home, and forced to keep their mouths shut. Any student who does voice a concern receives a Warning Letter by the agency basically stating for the student to keep their mouths shut, and if they don’t, then they will return to their home country in shame.
As a result of an agency accepting more students than there are host families available, students have been placed in the homes of convicted felons and registered sex offenders. Students have been found sleeping on couches in musty, mold-ridden garages. Five male students from Ecuador were found last year crammed in a camper in Montana. Up to fifteen exchange students were found living in a basement in Colorado. These innocent students were found sleeping on cots, on top of pool tables and in sleeping bags. All were not attending high schools. All arrived in the US without a family.
While these agencies are quick to want to cry that this is an “international issue” many are learning that it is primarly the bottom line that is their vested interest.
You can help to give your student a voice by having her contact CSFES.
May I suggest that you provide to CSFES the name(s) of the high school that these students are attending. High schools throughout the US are encouraged to only work with those agencies who respect and adhere to the federal regulations to ensure the health, safety and welfare of these exchange participants.
Please provide to her natural parents the website of CSFES, too, and recommend that they also contact CSFES.
Thank you for your kind heart and caring enough to voice your very valid concerns. They will be of great interest to those who advocate for the safety and welfare of exchange students.
Too many students leave America with a horrible impression. Barry, please help to make a difference and contact the State Department, Compliance Officer Ms. Beth Melofchik at Melofchikbx@state.gov or telephone her at: 202-453-8578.
Danielle Grijalva is the director of CSFES. Her direct email is DGrijalva@csfes.org and she can be reached at 866-71-9203. She will more than likely send you the link to the federal regulations which I believe will be of great interest to you.
Thank you for listening.
on August 24th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
As an update to this story, ASSE’s Area Representative held a meeting with all of the Host Families here in Winston-Salem, NC on Monday, August 20 and assurred us that by Friday, August 25 all of the students would know their placements for the school year. Well, it’s the end of the business day on Friday, August 25 and ASSE is still working on placements. I called the Area Coordinator for this region and was told, “I don’t know why the Area Representative would have told you that. Placements are still coming in. It’s a very hectic time.”
When I asked what I was supposed to do with my student now that the “transition” classes are over, I was told she should “shadow” another exchange student when they attend school next week. WHAT?! You can’t hang out with your friend at school if your not a student there. Besides, our student should be at her own school. This is a joke. ASSE is obviously scrambling to place these kids and I don’t even want to know what procedures they’re skipping to get it done.
I’ve decided that if our student still has no placement by Monday, August 27 we’re going to contact CSFES and the State Department to file a complaint. Thanks again to Jen for all the contact info.
on August 25th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
I have been asked to provide you with the following link to the Federal Regulations:
http://data.memberclicks.com/site/cosfiet/J-Visa_Final_Rule.pdf
Upon reading the regulations, it will be very clear to you those regulations which have been violated.
Sir, would so respect and appreciate if you would take a moment to also voice your concerns for these student to your local Senator?
What these students endure in the US is not a rare occurrence. CSFES remains vitally concerned with the lack of regard and respect many exchange organizations have for the federal regulations.
Perhaps you can request a formal investigation from your Senator’s office in an effort to ensure these circumstances will not happen again.
Again, sir, thank you for caring for these students who are innocent. To think of the thousands of dollars their parents spent for them to come to the US to be treated like this is a crime. A breach of contract, too.
on August 25th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
I learned today that our student and 11 others do not have placements. We have spoken at length with our student and she has given us the green light to “fire up the presses!”
This evening, I sent a fax to both Julia Findlay with the State Department and Congresswoman Virginia Foxx. I had originally emailed Beth Melofchik but it was returned stating she was out of the office and no return date was listed. Julia Findlay was given as the next contact. I also emailed a copy of this fax to Danielle Grijalva with CSFES.
Our student’s parents will be contacting their officials in her country, and depending on what shakes out on Monday we may be contacting her country’s Consulate for our region.
Keep it here for the latest updates as the saga unfolds.
on August 28th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
What a journal this must be creating for your exchange student and the other students. I’ve always thought just visiting another country as a tourist with your own itinerary brings on some anxiety. Reading the blog and following ongoing comments has been like reading a novel. I wish you swift response and help from the agencies. Most important, a happy ending for all involved.
thanks to your family for the care extended to this student.
on September 20th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
As an update to this story, our student was finally placed with a permanent family right here in our County and they are wonderful people. Unfortunately, the former ASSE rep tried to enroll more kids in one of our local high schools than was permitted and that angered the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services who has taken it upon himself to forbid our student from enrolling in any of the county high schools. Just another liberal educator flexing what little influence he has to make up for his lack of common sense.
Our student was then moved to another state where the school accepted her but the housing conditions are less than favorable. We’re working on getting this educator to bury the hatchet and allow our student to enroll here. I’m sure ASSE won’t pay for her return flight so I’ll foot that bill, but if it restores this girl’s dream of coming to America then it’s money well spent. If anyone out there wants to contribute to this mission just post your comment here and I’ll get back in touch.
For those of you who are looking for a worthy organization to make those last minute end of year charitable contributions to, please consider CSFES.org. They are the only ones who have stayed in contact with me during this whole ordeal and the only advocate these kids have once they’re on American soil.
on September 21st, 2007 at 7:30 am
Why have you labeled the Superintendent “a liberal educator?” What actions did the Superintendent take that are particularly liberal? The Superintendent just sounds like a typical bureaucrat. I see nothing “liberal” in the Superintendent’s action. Wouldn’t true liberal actions have the Superintenent enrolling the student in high school, signing her up for welfare, and engaging the ACLU because someone mocked her French accent?
on September 21st, 2007 at 8:57 am
Maybe I was too quick with the “liberal” labeling. I’ll let you know for sure if he ever answers my calls for an in-person meeting. However, she would probably be better off tossing her passport, walking in from Mexico and then getting in-state tuition as an undocumented worker. Now that would be liberal treatment.
on September 21st, 2007 at 5:21 pm
[…] If they won’t put it in ink, keep on looking. You can check out the saga of our student at Brothers In Blog ? Blog Archive ? Exchange Student Programs - SHOW ME THE MONEY!. Good […]
on September 24th, 2007 at 1:57 am
We have a similar problem. My parents agree to take two students for the ASSE introduction month long program starting in August. Well that month long commitment has extended into months and they’ve added a third student. They now have three students with no host families and schools who are incredibily axious. We just visited my parents this weekend and the exchange kids were visibly anxious. They were having trouble sleeping at night. The boy from Taiwan told me he was sick from worry.
ASSE has dropped the ball here. My parents have graciously put up with the situation because they feel so bad for the exchange students. Tonight I sent them the contact number for CSFES. I am embarrased that these kids have had such a poor experience with ASSE. It’s a reflection on our country that we don’t shut organizations like this down.
on September 24th, 2007 at 7:31 am
Thanks for commenting Chris. Good move on contacting CSFES. Danielle Grijalva and her associates are doing a great job on keeping up the pressure on our Department of State to take action, which appears to move as quick as FEMA. I also highly recommend that you submit a complaint to your Congressperson. I discovered last week that whenever a member of Congress submits a complaint to a US Government agency, that agency MUST respond. I am pleased to announce that my Congresswoman’s office informed me that an investigation is underway of ASSE and one other exchange program. Don’t let this news stop you though from contacting your Congressperson. We need more of our elected officials to file complaints on our behalf to the Department of State to keep up the heat.
on September 24th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
This is becoming very typical behavior for ASSE. Chris Williams , you need to get in touch with CSFES.org .
Having 3 students is against the law and having them not in school is against the law. These kids pay a fortune and ASSE takes the money and dumps the kids on people like your parents.God Bless them for their kindness. The same thing happened to us last year. My boys from Japan paid a whopping $14,500 each to come to the us and live with volunteer families. ASSE as a NON PROFIT (LOL) had to have made a whopping $10000 in profit from my kid and he had to be removed by the police from an ASSE reps home !!! (Thanks to his school counselor) .. I paid to have him brought here because ASSE was too cheap to do it. We are in the process of proceedings against ASSE. These children’s parents deserve their money back . that is the easy part . The US reputation is the hard part. I wish that the State dept would open their eyes. These companies are multimillion dollar crooks with a license to mistreat students. They have gotten away with it for years. Waiting for the State Dept to act on behalf of these kids. We shall see , meanwhile please encourage the foreign exchange students involved to sue or demand their money back. It needs to happen.
on September 24th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Thanks Margie. I applaud you for taking legal action. It is obvious that the only way to get ASSE’s attention and others like them is through their wallet. If everyone with a bad experience would take the time to file a complaint with the Department of State it would help send a message that these are not isolated incidents. I’d like to see violators like ASSE lose their tax exempt status for starters. They should also be required to have a THOROUGHLY screened host family and school secured for each student BEFORE they depart their home country. This measure alone would cure most of the complaints.
If anyone else has an experience with a foreign exchange student program that they would like to share please do so. Good or bad I’d like to hear them. If your experience is a negative one and is still ongoing, PLEASE contact Danielle Grijalva at CSFES.org and have her file a complaint to the Dept of State on your behalf.
on November 20th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Barry - it is tragic. I’m sorry, but some of your humor came through in the post, it doesn’t make it any less important! I am trying to keep my humor high, but every day there is a new challenge. I’m keeping the blog updated - so moral support is great!
on November 20th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
I guess you have to know me to understand that the humor is my weigh of venting. There’s a lot to this story that has not been told because we feared that the student would be repatriated. Our story does have a happy ending, but until the paperwork is finalized I’m keeping tight lipped on “the rest of the story”. I can tell you that my complaint to Congresswoman Virginia Foxx has proven quite effective and her office has been keeping me posted on the progress of the Department of State’s investigation of ASSE. I am also planning on working with Congresswoman Foxx on getting a bill submitted to require fingerprint background checks and a permanent closure of the loophole allowing “temporary” host family placements.
on April 3rd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Hi, I am considering working for ASSE as a coordinator. I wanted to check them out while they check me out. I just left a message with CSFES. It sounds like ASSE got stuck with a few flaky reps who make the rest of us look bad. I suppose I should talk to past reps and find out what I am getting myself into.
on April 3rd, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I believe that most of the local reps for programs like ASSE truly want to make sure that both their students and assigned host families have a great experience. While I cannot speak for CSFES, I would recommend you find a couple of ASSE reps in your surrounding area and interview them AFTER their students have returned home. You will then get a complete picture of the job from those who went the distance.
on July 6th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Wow!! I wished I found this website before I decided to become a ASSE rep. When I applied, I was told that the students already had permanent placement for the year and just needed a place to stay while they attended class. It was April when I was hired, but neglected to tell me that I already had 20 students that needed host families. Come to find out, only 2 of the 20 had permanent host families for the year. Due to lack of interest and the downfall of our economy, most families who would love to help just couldn’t afford it since they had to take them to all the classes and trips. Now its July, and the status of placement of my students haven’t changed. I made the hard decision to cancel the program, even though it would cost me, to make sure that these kids weren’t going to be sent here with no host families to go to. I was told whether they had families or not they will be sent over, but after further research I found that U.S. law states that they must have permanent placement before leaving to the U.S. In other words, these kids are promised that they have placement for the year, but in reality they only have placement for the classes in hopes that the family would keep them for the year. So, for anyone who is out there considering this job PLEASE do your homework.
on July 6th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Lemel, I applaud your courage in making the difficult to decision to cancel the program. You put the welfare and the dreams of these prospective exchange students ahead of your own and that’s to be commended.
Even though you have been on the inside of this industry for only a few months, your information can help the US Department of State crack down on these organizations that thumb their noses at the laws that make these student exchanges possible. I encourage you to contact not only the Department of State with your information, but also your local US Representative and Senator. In my experience, I got nowhere with the Department of State but I believe in following the chain of command. However, US Representative Virginia Foxx (NC) and her staff did a fantastic job in getting the Department of State to take action on my complaint and keep me up to date on what was happening.
Also check out my June 2008 post http://brothersinblog.com/2008/06/05/practical-advice-to-exchange-students-hosts-and-parents/ and considering adding your experience so others can learn from it.
Thanks again for commenting!
on July 8th, 2008 at 1:02 am
We are considering hosting a student through ASSE but the student will be assigned to a high school across town. The school is on my way to work but would have to drive student to/from school and for extra curricular activities. The local high school (serves our area) is much closer with bus service to school right in front of my house. Does anyone know if the high school can be changed for this type of situation?
on July 8th, 2008 at 5:35 am
You say “will be assigned” as though it hasn’t happened yet. I would probably contact the school’s Admissions office and confirm that the school has indeed agreed to take your student. If they have, then meet with the Principal or Assistant Principal at the school that services your address and explain the situation. A school principal is ultimately the one who has to approve your student’s placement.
Once you’ve secured your school’s approval to take your student, go back to the originally assigned school and work on transferring any paperwork to your school. The school may do all the transferring internally saving you the drive, but make sure you have a contact at both schools so you can make sure everything gets done in a timely manner. Make sure you talk this over with your ASSE rep beforehand and keep them in the loop.
Now, if your student has not yet been assigned to a school then meet with your ASSE rep and get the paperwork started at YOUR school and not the one they’ve identified that will take him or her. If the ASSE rep says they cannot change or are unwilling to work with you then I’d seriously reconsider taking in a student. If you don’t have experience with chauffering kids to/from after school events then speak to someone who has and you’ll realize that it can be a major pain. Compound that with a drive across town and you’ll be miserable in no time and it will have a negative effect on your exchange experience.
We took in a Korean exchange student early into the school year after his originally assigned host family decided that they just couldn’t handle the responsibility. My family was already familiar with the student so we took him in with the agreement that he could stay in the high school he was attending even though it was outside our county. The school counselor sympathized with the student’s plight and agreed to let him stay although he geographically should not be placed in their school. Of course, that meant that every morning I had to get up early to drive him to a friend’s house in that county where he could get the bus to school. Then, my wife would pick him up from that friend’s house after school. It all worked out, but it was a lot of driving and there were days when things didn’t run so smoothly. Our student wanted to join the school’s tennis team, but he opted out after realizing how much transportation planning was involved in picking him up directly from school when he had practice.
on July 9th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Barry,
Thanks for the suggestions. I too am very concerned that the transportation issue would have a continuous negative effect on the relationship. We’ll see what we can work out with all parties. Will probably decline if not successfull. Many thanks!
on July 22nd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I’m glad I found this post. My daughter is interested in going abroad to Italy for the 2010-11 school year (yes we’re planning way ahead) and she is interested in going through ASSE because they promise your country of choice. I’m glad we’re beginning this process early, it looks like there is much homework to be done to find a program that operates in accordance with the law. Thanks for the tip about CSFES.
on July 22nd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
In regards to ASSE, my comments are in regards to my personal situation and should not be taken as their general method of operation. I don’t approve of the “temporary” host family arrangement because I feel it is only a loophole to get the students onto our soil while sponsors frantically continue to find permanent host families. Had ALL of the students had permanent host families and schools assigned PRIOR to their arrival this article wouldn’t exist. Please read my latest post regarding Practical Advice to Exchange Students and Host Parents at http://brothersinblog.com/2008/06/05/practical-advice-to-exchange-students-hosts-and-parents/.
on August 17th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
my daughter( she’s french) and 5other french students are stiil waiting for their permanent placement by august,24,2008. She’s worried because she must leave her actual family and doesn’t know where she’s going next week.and I’m worried too as i live in france.They are all attending a language camp inTwin Falls high school,Idaho
on August 17th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
right now, inTwin Falls high school, Idaho,6 french and other nationalities are still waiting for their permanent host families by august 28, after completing the so called language camp.They are all worried and anxious and i’m too as a mother. I want my daughter to plainly live her USdream but it’s becoming a nighmare with ASSE. HELP!
on August 17th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I understand your frustration and feeling of desperation. As a former temporary host family, I wanted our French exchange student to get her permanent placement in a timely manner and begin enjoying her US dream.
My recommendation is that you contact the company in France that your daughter originally signed on with. It may be PIE France or another company, but begin voicing your concern to them now before the August 28th deadline. There is a lot of truth in the saying, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” The company in France has probably subcontracted her placement in the US with ASSE, which is common. However, the French company may not be aware of ASSE’s difficulty in finding host families until you call them.
Review the contract you signed with the Exchange agency. There should be a date stated within the contract that the Exchange agency promises to have your daughter placed with her permanent host family. If they don’t meet that deadline, you should be entitled a refund. I know that your daughter would prefer to live her dream in the US, but trust me the Exchange company does not want to give any money back so they’ll work hard to make you satisfied.
If your daughter isn’t placed by the deadline, contact the Department of State and speak with Compliance Officer Ms. Beth Melofchik. You can email her at Melofchikbx@state.gov or telephone her at 202-453-8578. In the meantime, inform your daughter not to get upset and not to sign any paperwork from ASSE until you read it first.
Please keep us updated as to your progress.
on August 17th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
It seems funny to hear about only one organization, as they all operate the same way. The non profit ones such as (ASSE), put the money to insurance, costs to get the students placed, airfare etc. Someone complained that they get to come to the US for just over $4,000 and where does the money go. Did you know that if they came over without an organization, that they would have to pay around $10,000 just for public school tuition alone! Not to mention insurance and airfare and no one to keep tabs on them. Would you just send your kid to a different country and let him fly out alone with no one waiting on the other side to help? Most students and families have wonderful and lasting experiences, many times it is the families that have issues (bi-polar etc.). Some of these things don’t show up on a back ground check, and sometimes this is why students get moved to a different home, because something appears after the student is in the home and gets to know the family, they start noticing things, and then it is the responsibility of the rep to make it right and sometimes that means a new home. As for giving some of the money to the families, organizations that do so are actually breaking the law, not the ones who don’t pay. A lot of times the ones that pay you, you never hear from them again after your student arrives, and good luck trying to get in touch with someone. For those wishing for a good experience, please make sure your organization is CSIET certified, most GOOD schools will not work with an orgainzation unless they are. By the way, ASSE is!
on August 17th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
When I first wrote this article, I mentioned that ASSE charges $4000 for the US experience from France. That information was per their website, but both my France and Korea students informed me afterwards that they shelled out nearly $14,000 to the Exchange sponsor in their home country. How much of that ASSE gets as a subcontractor I don’t know.
As for why ASSE seems to get mentioned so much, it’s because they are one of the largest Foreign Exchange Student companies. I saw their tax return about a year ago, and if memory serves me correctly their tax-exempt status is possible because they state that they provide educational services like a school.
As for CSIET, it’s simply a watchdog organization made up of its own peers. It’s the equivalent of the police investigating themselves. It’s a start, but I wouldn’t stop my research there.
I have nothing against foreign exchange programs, only with those sponsors that fail to provide a permanent host family AND school assignment BEFORE the student leaves their home country.
on August 17th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
By the way as of today the local rep in Boulder, Colorado told me she still has 8 students to place. School started last week here. There were only 14 total at the camp. Some as Barry said paid over $15K for this service. The school districts cover the education not ASSE.
on August 17th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
It’s up to the Department of State to hold the feet of these organizations to the flame. Like everything else in government, too few employees to enforce the laws they enact. Personally, I’d like to see a 2-year moratorium on the J1 Visa Program to allow our government to reassess the Program, close the loopholes, and come up with some enforcement measures that have teeth!
Once November elections are over and I know which officials will be representing me here in North Carolina, I plan on submitting a bill to our local House of Representatives to force fingerprint background checks of host families like Utah. If more States require this, perhaps our own Federal government will make it a requirement. That’s one problem area resolved.