AFS Rules & Policies

Rules are important to ensure that the exchange students in Switzerland have a safe stay and to help them adjust to their Swiss family and school life.

You are expected to follow the rules of your host family and of your host school. To them, their rules might seem natural and self-evident but not to you. It is therefore important that you get to know the rules through questions and dialogue with host family members, teachers, classmates and AFS volunteers. Such discussions are not only important to avoid trouble, they are also a very good opportunity to learn a lot about the values and the beliefs in your host culture.

Furthermore, you have to respect the rules of AFS Switzerland. Students who violate any of these rules can be excluded from the program and sent home. It is therefore very important that you understand the rules and know what is expected from you.

Rules of AFS Switzerland

The rules will be discussed during the orientation camp in Switzerland, so you should seize the opportunity to ask questions if something is unclear. After the discussion, you will be asked to sign the rules to confirm that you have understood and will respect them.

• Respect the laws in Switzerland.
• Driving motor vehicles, hitchhiking and the consumption of drugs are strictly prohibited.
• You may not get drunk. Hard liquor is not allowed while on the program. Never drink more than 2 glasses of beer or wine. Read and review the information on alcohol in the Safety Handbook carefully.
• It is forbidden to organize parties where alcohol or drugs are present.
• Do not sign contracts during your stay in Switzerland (such as work contracts, mobile phone plans, rental agreements etc.). There is one exception to this rule: You are allowed to sign a contract in order to open a bank account.
• Follow the travel rules and the rules for visits from your home country as explained in the next paragraphs. Independent trips and visits from home must not interfere with your adjustment process, your obligations at school and the plans of your host family.

Travel policies

School always comes first. You are not allowed to miss school in order to travel.

Switzerland is small, relatively safe and public transport is very reliable. Therefore, you will certainly have the opportunity to see many places in the country. It is very common for Swiss teenagers to travel independently and visit friends in other parts of the country. You are also allowed to do this if your host family gives you their approval. Discuss your plans with your host parents and make sure that they do not interfere with the family plans.

As soon as you have your residence permit, you are allowed to cross the border to the neighboring countries for day trips. In fact, it is very common in Switzerland to cross the border to go shopping. There is usually no border control. Nevertheless, make sure that you always carry your residence permit and your passport with you.

Travel waiver process

For independent overnight trips outside Switzerland, you need permission from AFS Switzerland. This permission will be granted under the following conditions:

• You have been on the program for at least 4 months (for year students only).
• You do not miss any school days.
• Your host family agrees.
• Your natural parents agree.
• You either stay with relatives or friends or you are accompanied by an adult resident of Switzerland.
• We need a written invitation from the family you will be visiting abroad or an email from the person accompagnying you with a copy of the passport or id card.
• You are not allowed to travel independently for more than 21 days during your exchange program.
• You have handed in your travel request for permission at least two weeks in advance. (How this is done will be explained to you during the orientation camp.)

If you travel with your host family or your host school, you need to inform AFS Switzerland where you are and how you can be reached in case of an emergency. If you plan to leave the Schengen area with your host family or host school, please inform AFS Switzerland at least two weeks in advance so that we can obtain written permission from your natural parents.

Visits from home

Visits from relatives and friends often have a disruptive effect. For this reason, AFS advises against visits from your home country during the exchange program. Visits from natural parents, relatives or friends always require prior approval from the host family and AFS Switzerland.

Travelling outside Switzerland with visitors from your home country is not permitted during the program.

IMPORTANT: Your Swiss residence permit allows for travel within the Schengen Area. (For more information on Schengen, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area.) For other countries, you may need to apply for a visa beforehand. It is your responsibility to aquire any and all required visas prior to travelling.

Make sure you have your passport AND your residence permit with you whenever you leave the country.

Uninsured activities

Some activites are excluded from AFS's insurance. These activities include but not limited to: hang gliding, paragliding, parachuting, piloting and acting as the crew in an aircraft. You are not allowed to conduct any of these activites unless you have the explicit permission of AFS Switzerland.