Earthquake in Japan: Update
From AFSWiki
Overview
After much consultation with AFS Japan, we have determined the best course of action is to cancel the 2011 Spring Year Program to Japan. There were 27 students slated to depart on March 23, 2011. The Outbound Programs staff has reached out to these students by phone to provide the update. We are following the phone call with the email below. In addition, we are providing the email to those local volunteers who have supported these U.S. students.
Email content
Dear Jennifer,
Here is the latest update regarding your AFS program to Japan.
As always, the safety and well-being of our participants is our top priority. Providing the opportunity of intercultural learning in a safe environment is therefore, our primary concern.
Since the last update on Friday, March 11, AFS Japan has reviewed multiple scenarios for year program students. After much consultation, the Spring 2011 year program to Japan, due to depart March 22, 2011, has been cancelled. We believe this decision is the best option for all involved particularly for participants, their parents, their host families, host schools and local volunteers.
As a result, AFS is inviting all year program students to participate in the semester program departing this summer. Students are scheduled to arrive in Japan in late August during the summer holidays, and begin school in early September. Students are scheduled to return home in early February, 2012 on or about the same date originally scheduled.
We recognize you are eager to know more details about the semester program option and implications regarding the year program cancellation. As we finalize details, we will continue to provide updates. In the meantime, there are some actions you will need to take right away.
Regarding your domestic travel, we ask that you contact the airline to cancel your flight to Los Angeles immediately. If you do not cancel the ticket before the departure date, the ticket will have no value. Therefore, the airline will not allow you to apply the value, less a change fee, to a new ticket. Once we have confirmed the orientation date in Los Angeles for the semester program, we will contact you so that you can book a new ticket.
Important: Based on our experience, AFS strongly recommends that you contact the airline directly by phone, rather than attempting to make these changes online.
- In the event you have purchased a fully refundable ticket as recommended by AFS, you should be able to rebook your ticket with little to no fee once a new departure date has been determined.
- If you have purchased a non-refundable ticket, you may incur airline change fees and/or fare difference upon rebooking your new domestic flight. (Please note that AFS USA is not responsible for any change fees or additional costs incurred due to price differences in domestic tickets.)
- Once we have confirmed the new international travel and orientation date, we will email a new travel notification to you.
If you have any questions related to travel, please contact our Travel and Logistics Department at 1-800-876-2376, ext 1182 or 1183, Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm, ET.
Regarding your visa to Japan; we are confirming with AFS Japan that the existing visa will be valid through the length of the semester program.
We recognize that this is a challenging time. We know you understand that the extraordinary circumstances and continued evolving situation in Japan makes it imperative that we are diligent in our assessment of program operations.
On behalf of all of us at AFS USA, we extend our deepest appreciation to all our Participants and Parents and extend our support and encouragement as you work through your program options.
We will continue to update you on additional information as we have it to share.
Respectfully,
Joanne Yokoyama-Martin Chief Program Officer – Outbound Programs AFS USA
