How to Become a Host Family
Expand your family, Expand your World!
Step 1 - Complete Application documents
a. Homestay Application
1. Click on "Host Family Homestay Application" form below
2. Fill out the form
3. Save As ... the form to your computer
b. Criminal Record Check
- Homestay Coordinator will provide applicant with a link to complete a Criminal Record Check. The Host Family must agree to provide criminal record checks for all individuals over the age of 18 living in the home at least once every three years as requested by the School District and will immediately report to the School District if any individual in the home is charged with a criminal offence.
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If requested by Homestay Coordinator, please complete form below and then forward to [email protected].
Step 2 - Submit Application documents
- Email the Homestay Application forms to [email protected] as attachments.
- If computers are not your thing, just call us! 250-770-7700 ext. 6274
Step 3 - Interview
After receiving your application to become a homestay family, our homestay coordinator will arrange a time to visit your home to meet you, view your home, and discuss what is involved in being a homestay parent. The following will be discussed at the interview;
Home Inspection
Discuss expectations and responsibilities of being a host parent
Go over compensation details * see Host Family Agreement
Complete Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) form
Review and sign Host Family Agreement
Sign Criminal Record Check form and Homestay Coordinators verify Identification
Step 4 - Student Placement
Our hope is that you will be informed of the student to be placed in your home with as much advanced notice as possible. You will be given the profile of the student placed in your home outlining personality traits, interests, likes, dislikes, contact details as well as a letter of introduction.
Students arriving for September intake are requested to arrive the final week of August to attend Orientation prior to school starting. Please include your student in any travel plans that week or arrange respite.
Step 5 - Pre-Arrival Communication
We would like host families to communicate with their student to get to know them a little bit before they arrive.
Step 6 - Airport Pick up and Drop off
Being at the airport to greet your student is an expectation of the program. It is a nice way to welcome a student to their new home and community. An ISP staff member will be at the airport to assist if there are any travel difficulties and to help welcome students to our community and to their new International Family.
Taking the student to the airport for their departing flight home is also an expectation of the program.
Students are encouraged to arrive at the Penticton Airport but with limited flights, this is a challenge. Host families will be offered an Airport Compensation if they are asked to pick-up or drop-off their student in Kelowna.
If for any reason host families are not able to pick up or drop off their students at the airport, please make arrangements with the ISP as soon as possible.