Generally, all ECA Programs (YES, FLEX & CBYX) students are expected to depart in the first or second week of June, specific travel dates will be shared with students about halfway through their program cycle. Students must travel on their assigned departure date with their country cohort.
Please note that as per ECA policy, year-end activities (such as prom, graduation, important host family events, etc.) are not considered when assigning return flight dates and the student must return to their home country on the assigned travel date at the end of the program. Additionally, the U.S. visa will not be amended or extended beyond the program end date. No exceptions will be made.
Per AFS policy, travel must be completed at least one week prior to departure from the host community.
CBYX Participants
CBYX students are generally scheduled to depart the U.S. in June. They will travel from their host community directly home. Prior to their departure, CBYX students will receive specific departure materials and attend activities run by AFS-USA staff, including discussions on what it means to be a CBYX alumnus and how to stay connected once they return home. As soon as the dates have been confirmed, the CBYX Team at AFS-USA will contact students and host families directly with more specific information about departure logistics. Reach the CBYX Team at AFS-USA with any questions at CBYX@afsusa.org.
FLEX Participants
Due to the number of participating students this year, all students from each FLEX country will depart on one designated date in May or June 2027 and travel home together as a group with adult chaperones.
Students received individual, country-specific emails from American Councils on October 29, 2026, with their assigned international departure dates.
All dates are subject to change due to flight availability. Detailed return travel itineraries are expected to be provided in April 2027. Depending on their placement location, students may need to depart their host communities the day before their international flight; however, the current schedule lists same-day domestic and international departures for all country cohorts.
Please note that there will be no year-end FLEX events in Washington, DC this year.
YES Participants
YES students will depart the U.S. on June 14, 2027. They will travel from their host community to Newark Airport where they will meet their flight chaperone and depart to their home country.
*Students hosted on the West Coast may depart on Sunday, June 13 if a red eye is required.
Please contact the YES Team at AFS-USA if you have any specific questions about departures. For YES and FLEX students, please refer to this FAQ for more information about departures.