Foreign Exchange Student Procedures

  • The District accepts foreign exchange students with a J-1 visa and who reside within the District as participants in an exchange program sponsored by organizations screened by administration. Exchange students on a J-1 visa are not required to pay tuition.

    Privately sponsored exchange students on an F-1 visa may be enrolled if an adult resident of the District has temporary guardianship, and the student lives in the home of that guardian. Exchange students on an F-1 visa are required to pay tuition at the established District rate. F-1 visa student admission is limited to high schools, and attendance may not exceed 12 months.

    Board Policy 7:50, School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools, regulates the enrollment of foreign exchange students. The Board may limit the number of exchange students admitted in any given year. Exchange students must comply with District immunization requirements. Once admitted, exchange students become subject to all District policies and regulations governing students.


    Administrative Rules and Procedures

    1. Foreign exchange students (J-1 Visa) who reside within the District as participants in an exchange program, sponsored by organizations approved by the Administration, shall be permitted to attend a District high school without payment of tuition. (A J-1 Visa is the most common visa for foreign exchange students. The student must be enrolled in a designated exchange program, which is responsible for their compliance with U.S. immigration laws (see #4). The J-1 visa is often issued for up to one year. More information can be found at https://j1visa.state.gov/.)

    2. Foreign exchange students must be in grades 9 through 12 and are subject to the same age requirements as other students in the district.

    3. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) tracks the status of foreign students in the U.S. (https://www.ice.gov/sevis). The sponsoring organization is responsible for ensuring the students' compliance with all regulations, including visa requirements and documentation.

    4. The sponsoring organization must be one of the Approved Foreign Exchange Programs (https://www.ihsa.org/schools/approved-foreign-exchange-programs) through the Illinois High School Association. 

    5. The student must reside with a host family within the attendance boundaries of the appropriate high school. 

    6. The student must provide necessary documentation from the exchange program, including acceptance into the exchange program and a transcript of previous academic records. This documentation must be submitted to the school district to ensure eligibility.

    7. The student is expected to pay all normal expenses, including general, standard course and extra-curricular activity fees. 

    8. Students have rights and privileges afforded to other students, except for the right to a diploma. 

    9. In order to balance the rich experience such a program offers with the responsible use of District resources, the number of exchange students admitted in any given year is limited to three (3) at each high school. 

    10. Applications for participants must be presented to the school Administration by the sponsoring organization no later than May 1.  

    11. All communication regarding the application and selection of participants will take place exclusively between the Administration and the sponsoring organization.  

    12. District 203 administration reserves the right to select foreign exchange participants so as to ensure that individuals:
      1. Possess an acceptable level of English proficiency (e.g., ELTIS, TOEFL, or another standardized test)
      2. Represent a variety of countries
      3. Are in good academic standing

    13. Exchange students must comply with District immunization requirements. Once admitted, exchange students become subject to all District policies and regulations governing students.

    14. Naperville Community Unit School District 203 does not accept tuition paying students with the exception of a student whose family plans on moving into the District within 60 calendar days.  

    15. Privately sponsored exchange students on an F-1 visa may not attend school in the District.

    16. Foreign exchange students are protected by federal laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.

    17. Foreign exchange students on a J-1 visa shall be treated fairly and equitably in terms of academic opportunities, access to school facilities, and extracurricular activities (sports, clubs, etc.) as long as they meet the eligibility criteria set by the District.

    18. Students should first apply for admission as a foreign exchange student through the appropriate high school administration. Once approved for admission, students should enroll through the District office.