A: All adults 18 or older in the home must have a clean background check. Our district administrator runs these with full confidentiality. They must be renewed annually (if you host a second student).
 

Q: How much will it cost my family to host a student?

A: The main cost will be in groceries and expenses when your family goes out to eat or to an activity with a ticket fee, since you would treat them as your own child and cover the cost. School fees, health care, cell phone, and personal expenses are covered by the student or Rotary.
 

Q: Is the host family compensated for expense to host?

A: We are unable to compensate host families for hosting. The U.S. Department of State prohibits payment to host families for hosting students on a J-1 visa. For this reason, the local Rotary club takes care of many of the student's expenses (e.g. school lunch fees, cell phone fees) to minimize the financial burden on the host family.
 

Q: How does the student manage money?

A: The Rotary Youth Exchange Officer will help the student open a bank account in your city and secure a debit card. The student receives a monthly allowance of $75–100 from the Rotary Club.
 

Q: What visa is the student on and what are the rules of that visa?

A: The student is on a J-1 visa. Some of the main rules of this visa require the student to attend high school, not (formally) work full or part time, and return home within 12 months or arrival. This visa prohibits monetary and incentive payments to host families.
 

Q: Can the student work to earn spending money?

A: While the student can't get a formal job at a retail or fast-food restaurant for example, they are allowed to do a job like babysitting or yard work to earn a small amount of money.
 

Q: What type of health insurance does the student have?

A: The student has purchased health care through the Central States Rotary Youth Exchange program prior to arrival. It is a VERY robust coverage, and even includes coverage for a parent to visit should the student have a serious accident or medical issue. The student receives a copy of the policy and a health care card upon arrival and should bring this to any doctor visited. The host family should never cover the medical costs of the student.
 

Q: What is the level of English language skills?

A: All students have studied English for a few years and have a basic level. Some will be almost fluent, and others will have very basic skills. One of the primary reasons they are on the program is to become fluent in English. Some will achieve that within a few months and others will take 10 months.
 

Q: Who is the legal guardian of the student?

A: The local Rotary Club's Youth Exchange Officer is the legal guardian of the student. If he/she is unavailable, the District RYE chair or the District Inbound Coordinator can also serve in this role.
 

Q: What is the student's responsibility with the local Rotary Club?

A: The student is required to attend Rotary meetings on a regular basis. This could be weekly or monthly, depending on a variety of factors. The student is also expected to join in charitable projects and to give updates/presentations to the club. The student should build a strong relationship with the Rotary club's Youth Exchange Officer and Youth Exchange Counselor.
 

Q: Can the student drive?

A:  Students are prohibited to drive any motorized vehicle—car, motorcycle, snowmobile, e-bike, etc. This is primarily because the insurance policy excludes coverage of injury related to the student or inflicted on others.
 

Q: What activities are prohibited for the student?

A: In addition to no driving of motorized vehicles, extreme sports (e.g. bungie jumping) and flying with a private pilot (non-commercial airplane) is prohibited. If you have a question about an activity, please contact your student's Youth Exchange Officer to verify.
 

Q: What if we want to travel with our exchange student?

A: Travel is encouraged, to allow the student to see more of the USA and have a full experience. If the travel is out of state AND overnight, then the student must complete a "Travel Request Form" at least 1 week in advance, per the rules of the J-1 visa. The form is located on the Inbound Resources webpage. If travel is outside the USA, the form must be completed at least 4 weeks in advance.
 

Q: What do we do if we are having problems with our student?

A: Your Rotary Club has appointed a Youth Exchange Officer and a Youth Exchange Counselor to work with the student and with you. Additionally, they have a Youth Protection Officer. This team is trained and should be in touch with you on a regular basis. The J-1 visa requires that they be in contact with the host family on a monthly basis. But don't wait for that monthly check in if you are struggling. Call them immediately to start working on a solution to the issue.
 

Q: How should the student participate in household chores?

A: The student is a family member, not a guest. As such, we encourage you to set expectations of how you wish the student to engage within your household. This includes family rules about cell phone usage, curfews, and helping with household chores.