Academic Year in America
Lisa Deberadinis, Regional Director
9 West Broad St
Stamford CT, 06902
(800)322-4678 x 5071
Fax: (203)399-5593
Email: mfrey@aifs.org
Oregon Contact:
Leeann Rolf, Local Coordinator
PO Box 10
Columbia City OR, 97018
(503)397-1187
Fax: (503)397-4000
Email: leerolf@comcast.net
SERVICE AREA: Brazil, Chile, China, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey.
Government Grant Programs- FLEX: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
YES Program: Egypt, Ghana, The Philippines, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia (spring semester only), Indonesia, India, Thailand, Kenya.
PROGRAM TYPE: Students arrive in August for the 10-month full academic year or for the 5-month fall semester program, or in January for the 5-month spring semester program.
FINANCES: Students have own medical insurance as well as an insurance card. Students are expected to have their own spending money for personal expenses. Tax deduction for the host family is $50 a month for each full month that your student is with you.
VISITOR REQUIREMENTS: Students have studied English for at least 3 years and have solid academic records. They are accepted after careful review of their applications, including family history, medical records, transcripts, and personal essays, as well as a personal interview which is partially conducted in English.
Notification dates vary.
Visa: J-1
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Academic Year in America (AYA) has been in operation since 1981, enabling nearly 15,000 foreign exchange students from more than 30 countries to live with families in the United States while attending high school. Each year more than 1,000 foreign exchange students come to the United States with AYA. They share their language, culture and customs with host families and friends. They are bright, eager ambassadors from all parts of the world, 15 to 18 1/2 years old. Since the Foundation has been designated by the U.S. Department of State as an Exchange Visitor Program, participants obtain a J-1 exchange visa for the duration of the program.