The coronavirus hurt exchange programs in the spring and has caused hesitance among many fall participants.
Organizers say international students have canceled or deferred their trip to next year. Along with students, fewer families are willing to host due to coronavirus concerns.
Elizabeth Bowers, Regional Advisor in Huron County for International Student Exchange, said she has signed seven students for the fall but that could change depending on the student. She said this year, the coronavirus has definitely reduced the typical number of students in the program.
“It’s kind of a low number,” she said, referring to how many students the area expects in the fall. “I’m usually still placing during this time, I’m usually still in contact with families, I’m calling families and getting new placements, but COVID has hurt the hosting program.”
Bowers says in past years she has seen as many as 25 exchange students come to the Thumb region.
As of July 1, ISE will no longer accept fall applications. For a student to be completely signed up for the program, the host high school has to accept them too which has not been done because they haven’t made decisions about fall plans. The students that had pending applications as of July were given the option to postpone their trip.
The coronavirus also caused many exchange students to return home early, but they had the option to stay. Vickie Alexander, Area Representative in Roscommon for ISE, said four students in her area stayed. Alexander said they were the January arrivals who had only been there for a short time and might not be able to return.
“The visas that they get are J-1 visas, they’re once in a lifetime visas and the government won’t issue those visas again. So, they would never be able to come back under a J-1 visa; they would have to come back on an F-1 which is a private school visa. So, it makes a huge difference.”
Alexander said the U.S. embassy is limiting their hours which delayed fall students’ ability to proceed with their visas. “These kids are having a hard time getting their visas to come so some of them even if they do get to come won't be coming until the end of September or the beginning of October.”
She said schools and families have agreed to work with students who may arrive late.
Alexander said the number of cancellations for the upcoming year is higher than it has ever been in her 15 years with the program. She originally signed seven students but now only has one due to coronavirus concerns.
