Student Exchange Program Agreement for J-1 Visa | U.S. High School Placement | WayUSA

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1.1. By beginning the application process or uploading any documents through the website, the user (parent/legal guardian and student) agrees to all terms of this Agreement.
1.2. The Sending Organization facilitates the application submission and transfers student documents to the Program Sponsor.
1.3. The final decision on program participation and placement is made solely by the Program Sponsor in accordance with the U.S. Department of State regulations.

2. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
2.1. Participants must be between 15 and 18 years and 6 months of age at the time the program begins and enrolled in a secondary school in their home country.
2.2. English language proficiency must be demonstrated through an ELTiS 2.0 online test, with a minimum score of level 4.
2.3. Applicants must provide academic transcripts from the last three years, translated into English using the U.S. grading scale (A–F).
2.4. Applicants must be in good physical and mental health and capable of living with a host family and attending school in the U.S. Students with specific health conditions may require a "Medical Conditional Acceptance."
2.5. Students with certain medical or behavioral histories (e.g., severe chronic illness, eating disorders, substance abuse, self-harm) may be ineligible unless individually reviewed and approved by the Program Sponsor.

3. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
3.1. Applicants must provide:

• Personal data and photographs
• Valid passport copy
• Completed medical forms (including vaccinations, TB test, and mental health evaluation if required)
• English teacher recommendation
• Motivation letter from student and/or parents
• Translated and certified academic transcripts
• Signed data processing and medical release forms

3.2. All documents must be submitted in the prescribed format and quality via the application system.
3.3. Placement in a specific city, state, school, or host family is not guaranteed. However, if available, the applicant may select one of the optional paid placement categories through a separate agreement with the Program Sponsor:

• Top School Request: Placement in a U.S. News Top 10% traditional public high school (ELTiS level 5 required)
• 30K+ Request: Placement in a U.S. town or city with a population of 30,000 or more
• Regional Request: Placement by geographic region (East, West, Warm States, or Select groups)
• State Request: Placement in a specific eligible U.S. state
• Metropolitan Area Request: Placement within an eligible metropolitan area (based on defined counties)

To qualify, students must:

• Submit the request before submitting the full application
• Have an ELTiS score of at least level 4
• Not be medically conditionally accepted
• Not be high school graduates

Only one request category may be selected per student. Approval is based on availability.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DISCLAIMERS
4.1. The user certifies that all provided information and documents are accurate and complete. Inaccurate or incomplete submissions may result in rejection or dismissal.
4.2. The Sending Organization does not make placement decisions and cannot guarantee program participation. All placements are determined by the Program Sponsor.
4.3. Participants agree to comply with program rules regarding behavior, academics, travel, host family expectations, and online conduct. Violations may result in dismissal without refund.
4.4. Any medical expenses not covered by the student’s insurance must be paid by the natural parents/guardians.
4.5. Parents/guardians must ensure the student has sufficient monthly funds for personal use during the exchange period.
4.6. All communication with U.S. schools, host families, or local coordinators must go through the Sending Organization, unless in an emergency.

5. DATA USE AND PRIVACY
5.1. Submitted data is used exclusively for the purpose of participation in the exchange program and may be shared with Program Sponsors, host schools, host families, and medical or insurance providers.
5.2. By agreeing to this policy, the user consents to the processing and cross-border transfer of personal data as part of international exchange participation.
5.3. Medical information may be disclosed in accordance with HIPAA and U.S. law when required for the student’s safety or treatment.

6. FINAL TERMS
6.1. This Agreement constitutes a public offer.
6.2. Program fees, payment schedules, and refund policies are covered in a separate agreement.
6.3. This Agreement may be updated without notice. The most current version is published on the website.
6.4. Any issues not addressed herein are governed by applicable U.S. law and international exchange regulations.

If you have any questions, please contact the Sending Organization through the contact information provided on the official WayUSA website.