March 31, 2026 Update: International Travel Policy for the remainder of 2025-26 AFS-USA Programs and for 2026-27 AFS-USA Programs.
Beginning April 6, 2026, AFS-USA will lift the temporary restriction on travel outside of the United States. This means that, with prior approval, students may again travel internationally with their host families.
While international travel will once again be permitted, it remains strongly discouraged due to ongoing risks and the limitations of AFS support outside the United States
Regarding YES, FLEX, and CBYX Participants: In keeping with our understanding of the current participant international travel guidelines at the U.S. Department of State, YES, FLEX, and CBYX participant international travel requests are unlikely to be approved. Given that policy, we recommend that participants and their host families who plan to travel internationally work with their volunteers to secure a temporary placement for the student.
This change reflects our intent to return flexibility to participants and families. At the same time, the underlying concerns that led to the original policy remain very real.
We want to be very clear: international travel continues to carry important risks.
- If a student leaves the United States, re-entry is not guaranteed.
- AFS-USA cannot intervene with immigration or border officials.
- If a student is unable to return to the U.S., they would be considered off program, and AFS support - including insurance, housing, and program services - would end.
- Any costs related to travel disruptions would be the responsibility of the student and their parents/guardians.
Because of this, we strongly encourage students and host families to carefully consider whether international travel is the right decision at this time.
If you do decide to travel, there will be a required approval process, including written acknowledgment from:
- The host family
- The student’s parents/guardians
- The AFS partner organization in the student’s home country
This process is designed to ensure that everyone fully understands the risks before making a decision. All requests will be considered on an individual basis and, as has always been the case, approval is not guaranteed.
We understand the desire to share meaningful experiences beyond the U.S., and we respect that many participants and families value travel as part of the hosting journey. Our goal is simply to ensure that decisions are made with full awareness of the current environment.
Click here to read more about guidelines for participants when traveling within the U.S.