Host families are not paid to host foreign exchange students as per the US Department of State. However, they receive compensation to cover expenses associated with hosting students, such as extra food and water bills. The rate for host families varies, so it is recommended to contact their local team to find out the rate for your spare room(s). Host families provide three meals a day to an exchange student, so if you decide to eat out for a meal and expect your student to go along, plan to pay for them.
EF provides several benefits for host families, including reimbursement of £30 for a 16-17 Saver or 16-25 Railcard to help students get discounts on travel around the UK, reimbursement of up to £120 per month, and a daily pay of £45 (up to £50) from September 2024. Bright World will pay you a mileage allowance of 55p per mile, as recommended by the AA.
Hosting an extra teenager in your home may increase household expenses, such as petrol, water, and grocery bills. Students cover their own travel costs, health insurance, school expenses, phone bills, and spending money. EF has established certain requirements for all host families, such as responsibilities, support, matching students with the right families, and details about remuneration.
All host families receive monetary compensation for hosting an EF student, which is meant to support their family in the weekly costs of hosting a student. Host families are responsible for providing their exchange student with meals, reasonable transportation when needed, and a clean and safe living environment. Host families are paid £50 per day.
Motorway allowances are also available for host families hosting two students from the same school. However, host families cannot receive financial gain from their participation in a student exchange program, currently at around £7, 500 a year. To become a host family, simply fill out our host family online application form and we’ll guide you through the process.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| Host family payment – EF Education First | All of our hosts receive monetary compensation for hosting an EF student. This sum is meant to support your family in the weekly costs of hosting a student. | ef.edu |
| Host family payment | All of our hosts receive monetary compensation for hosting an EF student. This sum is meant to support your family in the weekly costs of hosting a student. | ef.com |
| Student and Host Family expenses – Who pays for what? | Host families are responsible for providing their exchange student with their meals, reasonable transportation when needed, and a clean and safe living … | efexchangeyear.co.uk |
📹 Never Host a Foreign Exchange Student! (what NOT to do)
Why in the…? What in the…? What was going through their heads? Having hosted multiple times throughout the last 3 years, we …
How Much Do Host Families Get Paid For Foreign Exchange Students?
Host families typically do not receive direct payment for hosting students; instead, their participation in study abroad programs is motivated by cultural exchange and personal enrichment. While most host families are volunteers, they may receive a stipend to help cover associated costs, such as food and utilities. For instance, programs like StudentRoomStay (SRS) offer stipends for daily expenses. Host families can expect to receive between $500 and $1, 000 per month, depending on factors such as the student’s country of origin.
Those hosting F-1 visa students may receive a monthly stipend due to longer hosting durations, often extending up to four years, while families hosting J-1 students have different regulations. Tax deductions may be available for the hosting families, further benefiting their finances. Importantly, U. S. Department of State regulations prohibit financial gain from hosting to maintain the program's integrity. Although various factors influence compensation, families can anticipate earning around $30 to $85 per day.
Ultimately, hosting enriches both the host family and the wider community through cross-cultural engagement and lasting friendships. Over 40 years, many programs have facilitated valuable exchanges, enhancing understanding and appreciation for different cultures.
Do EF Host Families Get Paid?
All EF host families receive monetary compensation for hosting a student, intended to help with weekly costs like food and bills. Payments are made directly to hosts via bank transfer, supporting their expenses such as providing three meals daily. It's essential for hosts to establish guidelines, especially when dining out with the student. Compensation occurs on a two-week cycle, ensuring financial disputes are minimized, thus protecting both the host and the student.
Hosting an exchange student may increase household costs, including utilities and groceries, and while students handle their own travel, health insurance, and personal expenses, hosts are expected to provide meals and a safe living environment. The amount hosts receive can vary based on location and program specifics. While some evaluators suggest seeking out programs without payment for families to ensure genuine relationships, others highlight the importance of adequate support and matching between students and families.
The EF Homestay Program aims to pair families with suitable students, ensuring not only financial assistance but also a supportive experience for all parties, promoting cultural exchange and integration within the community. Ultimately, host families play a crucial role in shaping students' experiences while enhancing their own household dynamics.
How Much Do Host Families Earn?
As a host, you could earn up to £250 per student weekly, influenced by your location and the services provided, such as meals and private bathrooms. Earnings can vary significantly depending on proximity to language schools and accommodation quality. Research indicates that host families in the U. S. can earn between $500 to $1, 000 monthly per room, with an average salary around $86, 755 per year based on several anonymous reports. Various programs, like StudentRoomStay (SRS), offer stipends to help with daily expenses.
Host families may receive £45 daily, increasing to £50 from September 2024, and compensation can reach $2, 000 monthly in high-demand areas. Generally, host families can expect between $30 and $85 or more per day. The average monthly stipend associated with hosting international students ranges from $400 to $1, 000, subject to state variations. For EF host families, the compensation covers additional expenses incurred from hosting.
Overall, assessing your financial obligations and the potential income from hosting can guide your decision, as outlays for hosting students could be around $30k-$40k yearly. Knowledge of host family requirements and compensation rates is vital for prospective hosts considering this opportunity.
How Much Do Host Families Pay Cultural Care?
The Cultural Care au pair program has an annual average cost of approximately $21, 424, which translates to about $1, 785 monthly. This encompasses the program fee of $11, 245 and a minimum weekly stipend for the au pair, set at $195. 75—determined by the U. S. Department of State. Host families are required to comply with these guidelines, but they have the option to negotiate higher compensation with their au pairs. Additionally, families contribute $500 annually to support the au pair's educational pursuits at an accredited institution.
Au pairs only pay the program fee once they secure a match with a host family; applicants can initiate their search for free. The program includes comprehensive medical coverage for the au pairs in case of new illnesses or accidents. For over 35 years, Cultural Care has facilitated cultural exchange by sending au pairs to the USA, where host families provide essential needs like a private bedroom and three meals daily. The total investment for families can average around $18, 500 annually when factoring in lodging, food, car insurance, and other expenses.
The program aims to foster global understanding through cultural exchange, supported by the U. S. State Department’s regulations. For families considering hosting an au pair, there is potential for valuable cultural experiences, with opportunities available in 48 of the 50 states in the U. S. Interested individuals can start their American au pair adventure easily.
How Much Do Homestay Families Get Paid?
The monthly compensation for high school homestay students is increasing from $800 to $850. A recent survey by CHN involving 2, 267 hosts revealed that only about 60 believed the payments are sufficient for hosting. Payment structures vary by agency: some deduct placement fees before disbursing payments every two to four weeks, while others allow hosts to collect fees directly. StudentRoomStay (SRS) offers stipends to hosts, typically ranging from $800 to $1500 monthly, depending on location and school.
Host families are compensated to cover student hosting expenses, with amounts varying based on location, meals, and amenities. Hosts can accommodate more than one student if space allows, as determined by their Area Coordinator. For shorter stays, daily stipends vary significantly, averaging $30-$85+ per day, depending on the agency and region. Meal plans may include full board or half board, with rates around $1, 000 for full board and $900 for half board.
Payments are usually made biweekly, ensuring hosts receive for the precise number of hosting days. The overall earnings for host families may vary widely but generally fall between $30 to $85 per day. In contrast to the assistance from hosting, many families view homestays as supplementary income rather than a primary earnings source.
Do Host Families Receive Monetary Compensation For Hosting An EF Student?
All host families participating in the EF program receive monetary compensation to help with the additional costs of hosting an exchange student, including food and utility bills. The compensation varies based on location and the specific program, so it's advisable to contact your local team for details regarding the payment rates. For instance, host families in the UK are compensated £45 per day, increasing to £50 per day from September 2024, along with mileage reimbursement.
This financial support is intended to ease the burden of increased household expenses associated with having a student in the home. However, it's essential to note that the U. S. Department of State has regulations stating that host families generally cannot receive financial gain from their participation in student exchange programs. In some cases, families may receive stipends, while others, particularly in J1 programs, may not receive any compensation.
Overall, while many host families do receive payments for their hosting efforts, the specific compensation and guidelines vary depending on the program and location. For more detailed information, potential hosts should check the resource materials available from EF or contact the appropriate local office.
Why Should I Become A Host At EF Education First?
Becoming a host with EF Education First offers a rewarding opportunity to welcome international students into your home, share your culture, and enrich your life. As a host family, you'll engage with diverse cultures, traditions, and perspectives. EF Education First, a leader in language learning since 1965, supports host families through various benefits, including 24/7 assistance, weekly payments to cover hosting expenses, and a personalized student matching process. To embark on this journey, simply sign up, undergo a home visit, and attain certification.
Hosting international students fosters family interaction, community exposure, and cultural exchange, providing emotional support and guidance to students during their overseas experience. Families gain new friends, broaden their perspectives, and enjoy sharing language and cultural differences.
To effectively host, families should provide a welcoming atmosphere, a clean and cozy room, and nutritious meals, contributing to a safe and enjoyable environment for students. EF seeks families for the 2024-2025 season, emphasizing the importance of creating meaningful connections and lasting memories.
EF Education First is dedicated to opening worlds through education and facilitating life-changing cultural exchanges for students and host families alike. With ongoing support from EF staff, hosting students becomes a fulfilling endeavor that can help bridge cultural gaps and create a sense of global community. Join EF and participate in this enriching experience today.
What Are The Requirements For EF Host Families?
EF has specific requirements for host families, such as being at least 25 years old, passing a background check (DBS), and maintaining a stable household. Host families can be single individuals, same-sex couples, retirees, empty nesters, or families without school-aged children. To host a foreign exchange student, families must provide accommodation including a bed, breakfast, packed lunches (for younger students only), and evening meals on weekdays, with all meals on weekends.
Host families should create a hospitable and welcoming environment, providing a neat, cozy, and well-lit room with adequate heating, ventilation, and storage. Additionally, host families are expected to treat their student as a family member rather than a guest, fostering a supportive and enriching cultural exchange.
EF will work with families to match them with suitable students and provide ongoing support to enhance the homestay experience. Potential host parents must submit an application, provide references, and may undergo a home visit by EF staff. Host families discover the joy of cultural immersion, experiencing new traditions and perspectives in their own homes while ensuring a safe, enjoyable stay for international students.
How Much Does Kaplan Pay Host Families?
The average monthly pay for a Kaplan Host/Hostess in the United States is approximately $1, 400, which is 45% below the national average. Kaplan seeks welcoming homestay hosts for international students learning English, offering generous remuneration packages in return for providing housing and a taste of local culture. Hosting students involves creating a nurturing environment where they can thrive. Hosts are compensated between $800-$1, 500 per month, with variations based on location and the specific program.
One popular program, StudentRoomStay (SRS), provides hosts with a stipend for daily expenses. It is important to note that hosting brings additional responsibilities and costs to the household. Hosts can accommodate two students from different countries who speak different languages simultaneously, known as double placement. Kaplan also offers online payment options and the possibility to pay in installments, ensuring hosts are reimbursed for their services.
Families often provide basic amenities like a cell phone and shared vehicle access. Kaplan promotes the unique opportunity for families to connect with students from diverse backgrounds while making a significant impact on their educational experiences. For more information on host family requirements and compensation rates, prospective hosts can refer to Kaplan's Host Family FAQ.
📹 Get Paid to Host an International Student in 2021
How has COVID-19 affected secondary international education, specifically, international student hosting? Is it still safe to host an …
Do not expect them to become a full time, unpaid language instructor for your own kids. They are here to learn English. if they are happy to teach your own family members some of their own language, fine, but don’t expect daily language instruction. A friend of mine, who went to Japan, had this happen to him.
I heard about an Exchange Student that slowly the Host Family kept adding Home chores to, where finally the Exchange student had to “Baby Sit” the Host Family children and do house chores up to the point where the Exchange Student only had time for going to school but no time to study, visit friends, or do school homework. The Host Family was basically just looking for a “Slave”.
My wife and I have hosted 20 students over the years. Some good some not so good. We have opened our home and quite frequently added a new family member. The few times that it didn’t work out was mainly due to the student having different expectations than the reality they received. By and large my best advice is do not treat your student as a guest. They are here for a year to assimilate and learn about our culture. Set your ground rules within the first 48 hours. Yes I mean ground rules! No drinking is a good one, “oh I’m from Italy we drink wine all the time there.” Well spanky you are not in Italy anymore you are in my home and if you want to stay here is the rule. Oh over the past 20+ years we’ve heard it all, bottom line is a teenager is a teenager and they will stretch the limit if you let them. The second most important thing you can do is, ” do not let the student or their friends run your home.” Our rules were simple, you do not go out on a school night. You are not here to party and play you are here on an academic visa so school comes 1st. You must be respectful of your teachers and school. There is no law requiring any school to accept an exchange student, your actions for good or bad will affect future students you are an ambassador of your country. You are not here to financially support your student. If you start doing it then when you stop it will create problems. Don’t get conned, some students just dont want to spend their money and will try to convince you they are poor.
Hosted 3x so far. 1x as a host brother in the late 90s and we still talk to him. My sisters kids and my kids call him Uncle Thomas. Now as a host dad we hosted a girl from Italy (whom I love like my own daughter) and we just got our girl from Spain. She’s such a sweetheart! Next year we’re debating on what country to go for next. I love hosting and I know my family does too!
The religion part is really on point, I had to change family when I was in the US bcoz they were trying to convert me and basically re-educate me the way they wanted to. Of course I reported this to my parents in Italy and they were really mad at this, coz they felt like they were being judged by these people thinking my education was rubbish. I couldn’t wear shorts or skirts in Texas when it was 40°C outside or I couldn’t go out wearing some of my clothes, it was really terrible. Please don’t force your religion or your lifestyle to anyone.
My kid just signed up with the CBYX program, I am so excited, and so scared for him at the same time. He is such a soft spoken young man, hard working and respectful with integrity. Im hoping he finds a good host family with morals, and wont take advantage of his kind nature. Im praying that this is a wonderful experience, not something he’ll have to recover from.
My best friend is an international student and twice she has had to have police intervene and change home stays. And her last didn’t try and force her to participate in this religion but they might as well have since the wife would play Buda music for hours a day, making it hard for her to study, sleep or relax.
The last one!! We were two teenage girls in that house and they always said things about the food, apparently we ate too much oh but it wasn’t bc of the money, they said that it could make us sick, but when I spend my dads allowance on food (even though they we paid) it was suddenly OK to eat whatever amount. When we talked about this to the coordinator they got “upset” bc they’ve never had a problem, and I told the woman that by contract she had to feed us 3 times a day, SHE WENT TO PRINT THE CONTRACT AND RUB IN OUR FACES THAT IT SAID ONLY 2 MEALS A DAY. My part of the town didn’t have any busses so we had to ask them every weekend to drive us to the mall but a lot of times “the weather was too bad” but suddenly the next day we didn’t have any plans they said things like “oh we can drive you, we spend a lot on gas for you two, but it doesn’t matter”. The host mom would look through my phone, I was 15, I didn’t have anything bad but when I showed her a picture she would go through the others and say “I just want to make sure you don’t have anything bad” or in articlecalls with friends and family she would grab my phone and “look who I was talking to” like wth???? I finally changed families 6 months later, my last 4 months were the best.
My family and I have hosted 27 students, all very good students except for 2. Both from Germany. One, the female, actually expected we go out every evening to restaurants or coffee bars and expected us to go away every weekend, we don’t because it’s expensive. We had a talk with the exchange student rep and the student. We’ll, it was finally resolved. The male we had asked to use my laptop and corrupted it with animal porn. He was gone that night. So it is hit and miss. The two females from China hardly left their room, but eventually, they adjusted to our way of life and one young lady did enjoy our church youth group that when she returned to China she joined a Christian church in China. She eventually returned to the US to a Christian college and then transferred to SMU, where she graduated and was offered a job. We are so proud of her, although we did lose contact with her. She was a joy to have. The last one we had was a last-minute request to take in, and she was from Japan. She was an incredible young woman. We were invited to visit her and her family in japan. It was amazing except for the fact that I’m 6’9″ and Japan is not built for my size. Well, neither is the US, but I’ve adapted. My family and I did have a really good time in Japan, especially during Halloween. It was a blast. It was the most fun I could have had dressed as Jason Voorhees. Try it out. It’s not as bad as you might think. Just keep in touch with the coordinator.
Tried it twice and kids were very unappreciative and conceited because I lived in an apartment and their friends lived in a house. They knew this prior but chose to wait until they were living with me before complaining… they eventually got what they wanted and relocated to a family with a house. Never again
One case here in Ireland that really scared a lot of people was when a Swiss exchange student was murdered in Galway City, having only been here a few days. She apparently refused to listen to her host parents instructions and advice not to take a short cut in to the city which had had several attacks on women in the previous months and years. She promised them she wouldn’t take the short cut, but did anyway, and was raped and killed. Her body was discovered right along the route she had been told not to go. I really cannot imagine the torment her poor family went through and also her host parents who are tormented to this day. Unfortunately she was 17 and almost an adult, but still enough of a teenager to think she knew better and to take a chance on taking that short cut and paid with her young life. It also seems she didn’t want a lift in to the city to meet her friends and insisted on walking. It turned out that her killer had attacked and raped a French student only 7 weeks before and was under investigation for that crime also. Thankfully he was caught and got life imprisonment for the murder plus an extra 10 years for theft and then he got 2 further life sentences for the French students rape (life in Ireland can mean 15 years, so the judge was trying to ensure that he will not see the light of day for at least 45 years and rightly so). What a dreadful nightmare for everyone concerned. A thing to note here is that the agency involved apparently behaved very badly and the host family have allegedly said that as soon as the trouble started that the agency immediately started dodging responsibility and accusing the family of ‘victim blaming’ when it was pointed out the warning she had been given about certain areas.
i have the option to become an exchange student. i’m kinda nervous because i’m a bit of the quiet nice kind of person, but i hope things go well. i’ll join in on the meeting held in one of the classrooms and ask about it there, and give it a go. i will be grateful for everything provided for me and those taking care of me. not asking for anything fancy anyway. just coming along to create memories, bonds and learn something new.
Great, great, great advice!!!!!!!!! Hosting a student is a blessing! It’s a treasure! Not only is it fun, it’s a responsibility! Responsible to that student.. Responsible to be caring, loving, sharing, patient, humble… All things that make a person just a great human being in general! I’ve hosted 30 students, and now work with an exchange program, now that I can’t host students due to lack of space in my house. So thanks for sharing this advice! I’ll be perusal your other articles now!
We will never do it again. While our student was generally a sweet young lady she was also lazy, unmotivated and totally wasted her entire year because she lived on her phone the entire time. It was so discouraging to plan an outing or trip or event only to have her barely look up from her phone. Yes, we tried to talk to her and yes, we made rules but it became a battle so we just gave up. We all got so sick of saying, Please put down the phone. She was ungrateful and had no interest in anything, not at school, not with us and was totally unwilling to embrace and learn from the world around her. It was so sad and we were pretty annoyed at all of our efforts being met with apathy. She
The two girls we’re hosting at this time have been horribly disrespectful to us…like keeping a horrible mess…refusing to stop eating chips and leaving half bag chips all over the floor…half hour late to dinner…we thought they’d enjoy going places in our HUGE motorhome, but they complained, is too boring. I posted a article on my YT ch…they left a horrible mess and destroyed table top leaving spilled nailpolish remover…ground in cookies in new carpet… its horribly upsetting with their being so disrespected. We have a LOT of money invested in their coming here. They refuse to eat our food as one hates ALL fruit, ALL veggies…wants just noodles and candy. She sobbed, when I took away her 20 bags candy…she promised was buying to take home…but she ate most of it. Her diet is horrible….she refuses to eat most of what we prepare…healthy meals…we’re feeling pretty bad and we’ve spent a lot of money so far.
Hi, I found yogur vídeo very interesting as I agree with your 5 reasons not to host an exchange student. I have been a host Mom of au pairs from other countries. We did not treat them as au pairs, we treated them as a new member of our family and all we wanted from them was that they spoke in English with our children and to look after them while we were working. I always took them on holiday with us even they received a week pay. I looked after them as if they were my own daughters and gave them advice. Some of them have come back to visit us and we have gone to Scotland to visit them and their families. Now I am on the opposite site. My daughter has been admitted to the J1 exchange program in USA. The USA agency is ICES. My sister did that program 30 years ago and her host parents had offered to be my daughter’s host parents but they live in a rural area. They are really nice but We have decided to leave the agency look for a host family. I don’t know if we have chosen the best decision after hearing so many bad experiences about host families. But I hope she is lucky to find a loving family. Do you think ICES agency usually solves the problems between exchange students and host families? And the question the Spanish agency has not answered to me is: do the agency really try to match the student with the host family considering personality, hobbies…? The agency has told me that the host family chooses the student. But do they really consider that the chosen student will match in their family and be happy with them and the school the student must attend?
Good point on all of this. In college I encountered a few people that were international. After something like twenty or thirty years. Sometimes for one reason or another they do go back to their own country and do what they studied about in their own Homeland. Knowing that very many things happening in life. Although just if you’re curious and you look up the person’s name or birthday internationally there are so many people with very similar names and international laws very different. They may have gone through something.. and I heard an agency for them to disappear from someone in their own country. It’s just a little bit different and somebody might not ever see that exchange student ever again, it’s just seems kind of strange and different and it kind of makes a person wonder whatever happened to them. Are they alive. Did they pass away. Did they get a good job. Did they Die in a disaster. It just seems like a empty type thing.. not going to lose sleep over it but it just makes someone Wonder 🤔
I’ve read some of the comments of host parents under the article and unfortunately I saw lot of people saying that the students were disrespectful… does it have to do something with if the kids paid for the exchange year or not? I don’t want to judge or anything but maybe the kids who are selected are more respectful and more ”mature” because they have to go through multiple rounds to get into the program… does it have to do something with it? I’m not sure about all procedures in both cases, I’m only familiar with the second one I mentioned…
Hey Jenni, I’ve been perusal your articles and I think commenting is a good way to reach out to you because I need your help. I’m an American born who has been living in a different country (Mongolia) because my parents are from there and so I have both Mongolian and US passports and I will become a US citizen. This year (my sophomore year) my parents sent me to my aunt who I had never met for me to study in Austin TX, but quickly realized me and my aunt do not get along The education here in the States is so much better and I want to stay for the 2 more years of HS but the problem is my aunt is already set on sending me back to Mongolia. I cant go back knowing that I could be taking AP classes which NEVER offered in Mongolia. Please help ! Who should I reach out what agency should I even apply to find myself a host family?!
We had extra “daughters” mainly over 12 years,,,ranging in age from 14 ..through high school and then young Chinese adults who were usually graduates and here in NZ for post grad reasons. Also,, for two years in another town giving weekend “exeats” /breaks to boys at a local boarding school. On the whole, yes we’d do it again… by the stage we started our own 3 children were finished with school and university, whatever and we were both teachers. Right..that’s the background. It doesn’t take a special person to do this…just one with common sense, good rapport and judgement, steadiness and understanding of what the girls (in our case ) might be coping with culturally and with language. Japanese and probably all Asian. girls will often say what they think you expect or would like to hear,,, and may just not let on how they really feel –they can “pull down the shutters” at will. That said,,,,as they say..we are still in contact with 3 or 4,,, one is a special friend of our much travelled daughter and came across from Europe to her wedding, and has been back 4x to visit us. You don’t need to be super parent. Just a well balanced etc etc person try it. It’s like getting a box of chocolates….
Hi, I’m currently on exchange and My family is onky of me and my hist mom. I feel like since her kid is no longer home she wanted to have me to fill that place. It has been 3 weeks and I haven’t done anything yet, she never brings up things to do or places to go. I’m really struggling especially seeing other exchange always out with their host siblings or family in general. What can I do? Is that a big enough reason to ask for a change of family?
My wife and I have the easy part of this, we’re the Aunt and Uncle to exchange students so we get to take them to do fun things like skiing or ice-skating or to the movies. We get the fun part without the day to day work of dealing with teens. Out of around 20 kids every single one of them were polite and worked hard on their studies and took their stay here seriously as far as school but also knew how to have good clean fun just doing things like the above listed things. Every single Asian girl we did fun stuff with was surprised that as husband and wife we were also best friends. I think ours is the best part of having an exchange student.