A quick note to Adolesco families regarding news of possible changes to the Visa Waiver Program for US travelers: Your child does not currently need a visa to travel to Europe this summer

The USA and the European Union currently participate in the Visa Waiver Program.  This means that US citizens do not need visas for tourist travel to France, Germany, or Spain for visits of less than 90 days.

In response to ongoing negotiations between the EU and the USA over ‘non-reciprocal’ US visa requirements for citizens of five EU member countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania), the European Union’s Parliament approved a ‘non-legislative resolution’ on Thursday calling for the EU Commission to urge full visa reciprocity:

“The EU Commission is legally obliged to take measures temporarily reintroducing visa requirements for US citizens, given that Washington still does not grant visa-free access to nationals of five EU countries. In a resolution approved on Thursday, MEPs urge the Commission to adopt the necessary legal measures “within two months.”

The EU Parliament’s move sets a two-month deadline for the EU Commission to act if the U.S. doesn’t change its policy — but the Commission says it may not respond until this summer.

“Margaritis Schinas, the chief spokesman for the commission, appeared to tamp down any expectations that it would impose visa requirements on Americans within two months, as outlined in the Parliament resolution. Instead, he said he advocated “continued engagement and patient diplomatic contacts” with Washington.
The commission will issue a progress report on discussions with the United States, he added, but not before the end of June.”

Further developments would probably require legislative action within EU member states and will likely take time.

At this point your child does not need a visa to travel to France, Germany, or Spain.  We will do our best to keep you apprised of any changes to these policies.  Please note that travel arrangements are made by the individual families, not by Adolesco, and it is your responsibility to be aware of and fulfill any applicable governmental and airline requirements.

To stay up to date, check the website of the nearest French, German, or Spanish consulate (where visa applications would be made in the event they become necessary) as well as the US State Department website for your exchange destination (https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country.html).

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170227IPR64156/parliament-asks-eu-commission-to-press-for-full-us-eu-visa-reciprocity

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/world/europe/eu-visas-parliament-united-states.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur

Do you live in the Sacramento area?
Looking for more information regarding international exchange programs for your child?

Join us at Adolesco’s upcoming information session:

March 4, 2017; 3:00 – 5:00 pm

Hyatt Regency Starbucks
1123 12th St., Sacramento, CA

One of our alumni parents will be there to host the event, speak more about the program, and answer any questions you may have about Adolesco. Learn more about the benefits of international exchange, including foreign language immersion, cultural experiences, and the lifelong connections your child and family will create.

And best of all, your afternoon brew is on us!

Do you live in the San Francisco area?
Looking for more information regarding international exchange programs for your child?

Join us at Adolesco’s upcoming information session:

March 5, 2017; 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Laurel Village Starbucks
3595 California St., San Francisco

One of our local alumni parents will be there to host the event, speak more about the program, and answer any questions you may have about Adolesco. Learn more about the benefits of international exchange, including foreign language immersion, cultural experiences, and the lifelong connections your child and family will create.

And best of all, your afternoon brew is on us!

Do you live in the Philadelphia area?
Looking for more information regarding international exchange programs for your child?

Join us at one of Adolesco’s upcoming information sessions:

February 19, 2017 and March 11, 2017 | 3pm

Chestnut Hill Coffee Company
8620 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118

One of our alumni parents will be there to host the event, speak more about the program, and answer any questions you may have about Adolesco. Learn more about the benefits of international exchange, including foreign language immersion, cultural experiences, and the lifelong connections your child and family will create.

And best of all, your afternoon brew is on us!

Fifteen-year old Kinri Watson just returned from living in France for the summer as part of her Adolesco exchange.

“It’s really weird, like you’re two different people,” she says of her stay more than a year after hosting her French exchange “sister” Maelys in May 2015. “I also got to know a completely different Maelys!”

Kinri is a 10th grader at the Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS), where Geri Badler is the director of the Travel Center. Geri promotes Adolesco because she “loves the idea of the family-to-family exchange. It is personal and meaningful. I feel the Adolesco students that come here are well vetted, smart, and open to learning and sharing.”

It is typically adults like Geri with personal exchange experience who are the biggest advocates of foreign exchange programs. “I know the importance of cross-cultural exchanges and how rich an experience this can be, as well as the fact it is simply life changing” she says.

Ben Lev, who teaches Spanish at Credo High School in Rohnert Park, California, also wholeheartedly recommends Adolesco to his students. Ben does a little whiteboard math for his Spanish II class, “If you’re in my classroom for an hour a week for three years, that’s about 600 hours of Spanish. If you spend three months in Spain, that’s more than 1300 hours of Spanish – it’s like six years in the classroom – in three months!”

Because the travel and hosting periods of an Adolesco exchange are determined by the two families involved, children and teens can gain international experience without losing school time. Sometimes families will host one summer, and then send their child to travel the next, although not all Adolesco exchanges happen during the summer break.

“My exchange sister really wanted to come to school in the US,” says Kinri. “When I asked her why it turned out she wanted to see if the cafeteria is like in the movies, and she wanted to ride a yellow school bus!”

We sincerely appreciate the support of teachers and travel advisors who are willing to share our program with their students. Perhaps your school would be interested to learn more about Adolesco – contact us today!