We have a close personal friend who's daughter wants to stay with us here in Texas and attend our local high school. They live in Spain. We don't want to go through an agency because they are expensive and typically require that the student be placed with a family they do not know. Can anyone help us understand the process for making that happen?
Much appreciation in advance.
Rob
hosting a foreign student that we know without going through an agency
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You need to address this question to your local school and see if it's allowed, and you need to research the process with the State Department regarding visa rules. Students typically need visas for such study in the U.S. (not tourist visas, but special student visas). And there are rules and procedures to follow. Perhaps someone here has more information, but this isn't really a travel question, so I'd suggest reposting it in the Lounge.
Not sure what the "lounge" is. I searched on "lounge" and nothing came up.
Fodor's has an off-topics forum. It is called "The Lounge". Go to the blue underlines words "Change Forum" at the top of this page and you will see it as a choice there.
I think this is why those companies exist.
You need to:
Help the student get a special visa (and I believe guarantee their support and medical care). I would also have notarized letters from the parents with all of the terms and conditions and putting you in loco parentis for the time the student is in the US.
Get permission from your school district to enrol them
Get permission from the student's current school - so the courses they take are counted towards their graduation
Doable but complicated.
Start with the school. Ask if they've had any other foreign student in the same situation. Would they give you the name of the family that sponsored the student--who might have the best information?
At the same time, the student in Spain should gather information about being sponsored by you from the local American consulate.