FLEX Travel Information

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FLEX Travel

International travel for FLEX students is a very complex effort that is organized by American Councils. Since the FLEX program deals with such a large group of people, it is often difficult to accommodate individual student schedules. However, American Councils attempts to factor school start and end dates into students’ arrival and departure travel plans whenever feasible. A student’s destination in Eurasia is also taken into consideration when departure travel plans are being made.

In addition, given the age of these students, ECA prefers that they travel in groups with an adult escort whenever possible. This adds yet another scheduling challenge, as does the fact that flights to and from some of these countries may take place only two or three times a week. In early winter, students receive travel information forms regarding their departure date. This form may give them the opportunity to choose between two or more departure date options.

While there is no guarantee that the student’s request will be granted, American Councils makes every effort to accommodate the students’ needs and wishes. The forms are handled on a first-come-first-served basis. It is recommended, in addition to returning these forms by mail, to email the FLEX Specialist, Erin Abrams with the choice of date.

There are places on the travel form for both host parent and student signatures, indicating that all understand the travel policies as stated. Because changing travel arrangements can be complicated and costly, return travel dates will not be changed except in the most extreme circumstances. (Extreme circumstances do not include prom, graduation, or any other year-end activity!)

FLEX return travel request forms will be sent to students in hard copy in December, from American Councils (ACIE). In case a hosted student does not receive a form, they can also use the blank template below and refer to the FLEX Return Dates for the available return dates specific to each country.

In February, ACIE will assign, based on availability, non-negotiable return dates to any student for whom a requested return date has NOT been received.

All assigned return dates will be communicated during the last week in February via email.

Travel Form and Instructions for FLEX students

FLEX Return Travel FAQs

Can my hosted FLEX student return home on a date other than those presented in the Return Travel Request Form? No. In the interest of students’ safety as minors and due to the large number of overall FLEX participants (over 1,100), American Councils is required by the Department of State (DOS) to arrange escorted group travel for all FLEX students (see page 13 of the Host Family Handbook). This means everyone travels as a group (of 20-60 students), with a designated chaperone or escort, not individually. Therefore students must select from the group flight dates available to them on the Return Travel Request Form. The dates are country-specific. American Councils cannot arrange individual travel for any (non-early return) FLEX student as per these DOS requirements. Students and their Natural Parents agreed to adhere to DOS and American Councils' travel policies when they signed Form 7 of the student’s application.

My actual return date is different from the one that I requested. Can my date be changed to the one I selected? Unfortunately, this is not possible. A specific number of seats are blocked for each flight (for example, there may be 50 seats blocked for a June 28th return flight). If a flight is already filled to capacity than that date is no longer available. American Councils does not maintain a “waiting list.” My student is only booked to their capital city, but he/she lives in a town 200+ miles away. How will he/she get home? The same way they got from their hometown to their capital city in July and August 2010! All FLEX students fly in groups of 20-60 to the capital city of their home country. All students will be met by American Councils overseas staff upon arrival to this capital city airport. For students who live outside of the capital city, American Council’s overseas staff will have already booked the student a ticket to their home town either via plane or train (whichever mode of transportation as they used to get to the capital city last August). Natural Parents will have been informed accordingly, well in advance of travel, of their child's arrival information.

My student is worried because their U.S. visa expires before any of the available return travel dates. Can they travel with an expired U.S. visa? Yes. The U.S. visa is valid only for entry into the U.S. (think of it like a key). The dates between which the student may legally be in the U.S. are indicated in the DS-2019 form. All of the DS-2019s expire sometime in July, and so will not affect the students’ departure from the U.S.

FLEX Return Travel Dates for the 2010-2011 Cycle

• Please send your preferred date of return travel to Erin Abrams

Country	Dates of Return
Armenia	May 12, 2011; June 21, 2011
Azerbaijan	May 19, 2011; June 29, 2011
Georgia	May 10, 2011; June 30, 2011
Kazakhstan	May 18, 2011; May 25, 2011; June 22, 2011
Kyrgyzstan	May 18, 2011; June 22, 2011
Moldova	May 26, 2011; June 23, 2011
Russia	May 11, 2011; May 25, 2011; June 16, 2011; June 21, 2011; June 28, 2011; June 30, 2011
Tajikistan	May 24, 2011; June 21, 2011
Turkmenistan	May 19, 2011; June 29, 2011
Ukraine	May 12, 2011; May 17, 2011; May 24, 2011; May 26, 2011; June 16, 2011; June 29, 2011