WISE® Homestay Services- UC Irvine and Southern California Campuses
Information About Being Hosted Through WISE®
Homestay with a United States Family
A homestay with a United States family is a great way for students to practice English, learn about United States culture, participate in the daily life of a family, share meals at home, and to make new friends. Participating in a homestay coordinated through WISE® provides you with a carefully selected, and screened host family, familiar with the requirements and responsibilities to make the experience a positive learning and living experience for you and the family members. It is also the most affordable international student housing option.
WISE® Goals for each student and family for which we coordinate homestay are to provide:
- A safe home environment for students and their hosts.
- A rich educational experience (linguistic and cultural) for students, and a cultural experience for the host family.
- A program in which WISE® is confident that every reasonable measure has been followed in order to ensure the success and educational value of each placement.
WISE® Host Families
WISE® Host families represent many different backgrounds. Each family can offer a unique homestay experience. Some families are very traditional (for example, a mom and dad and two children, retired couples, or single moms with kids) and give students the experience of having a "family" in the United States; other families are very unique and independent and offer students an experience that is more like having housemates rather than a family environment. Both are great environments and offer a unique experience.
Basic Provisions
WISE® requires hosts to provide a clean, odor free, comfortable and safe environment, with a private bedroom which includes a bed, desk with adequate lighting for studying, inter net access with your own computer and accessories, dresser and some closet space. The house and neighborhoods are clean, pleasant and safe with public bus access. Homes are located within a 60-minute commute to school. Since students are here to improve their English skills and knowledge of our culture, household members are required to be proficient in English and speak English at home. Special requests for placement proximity and private bathrooms are not accepted.
WISE® Support Services ensure that you receive personal support throughout your stay with your host including:
- Selected host families, well screened and accessible to your school
- Full orientation materials provided by WISE®
- Complete placement information sent to you in advance, detailing information about your host
- Ongoing support by the local WISE® staff including scheduled meetings as well as by phone and e-mail.
- Facilitation of a detailed outlining your responsibilities as well as those of the host family for your protection as well as that of the host family.
Fees
The costs for homestay are as follows, and are subject to change:
(Contact agency to confirm fees for your period of travel.)
- Homestay placement fee (one-time fee which is paid directly to WISE®)
$195 ($225 if paid by Credit Card) for programs 4 weeks and under
$295 ($325 if paid by Credit Card) for programs 5-10 weeks long
- Continuation Fee
If you decide to stay longer than one term, there is also a $95 continuing fee for each additional term
- Homestay Stipend
Fees are paid directly to the family.
Students can select from the following options:
Current Pricing:
(Effective March 2013)
$615 per (30 day/$20.50 per night) month: PRIVATE, NO MEALS.
Room rental only, host will not provide meals.
PRIVATE furnished room with internet connection, all utilities and laundry included.
$720 per (30 day/$24.00 per night) month: SHARED ROOM, W/ MEALS.
2 meals per day (breakfast and dinner).
SHARED furnished room, two beds, internet connection, all utilities and laundry included.
Room must be booked by both students at the same time/together.
SAME GENDER ONLY!
$870 per (30 day/$29.00 per night) month: PRIVATE ROOM, W/ MEALS.
2 meals per day (breakfast and dinner)
PRIVATE furnished room with internet connection, all utilities and laundry included.
Note: If your organization is interested in a homestay program for a custom group in cooperation with one of the local campuses we serve, WISE® is glad discuss your needs and present a proposal. The fees listed above do not apply to custom group programs. To learn more information about our custom group program services please e-mail your request to: ucihomestay@wisefoundation.com.
Host Family Payment:
The host family stipend is a monthly fee, which the student pays directly to the family. Students may pay the family with Travelers Checks, cash, or by check drawn on a US bank.
To Apply
If you are ready to apply for a homestay placement please download the following forms and complete them:
Please send the completed forms back to WISE® via fax at 949-855-8971 or e-mail scan or clear smart phone photo to the email of:
susan@wisefoundation.com. If you choose, you may also pay your placement fee by wire transfer, check, or money order - (all funds payable in USD). Payment for placement fees is due in full prior to WISE® releasing your homestay placement information to you.
Payment may be sent to: WISE®, 25422 Trabuco Road, Suite #105 box #343, Lake Forest, CA 92630, USA
(Placement fees are non-refundable and due when application is submitted.)
WISE® accepts VISA or Master Card, (an additional $15 dollars is added for credit card processing fee) cash or Travelers checks, checks drawn on a US bank and wire transfers.
Wired funds should be sent in US Dollars to:
Bank of America
Irvine, California
Transit Routing #122000661
SWIFT BIC: BOFAUS3N
For Further Credit to:
Bank of America, Irvine
Foundation for Worldwide International Student Exchange
Account # 1015721027
please add additional funds for wire fee, usually $20 to $30 dollars
A late charge of $50 will be applied if the placement fee payment is not made prior to the first week of the program.
To download PDF Files: Our forms are downloadable, viewable, and printable in a PDF format which is accessible through the free application called Adobe Acrobat. If your computer does not already have the ability to view these PDF files, please go to http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat in order to download the correct version for your system.
Please let us know if you have any questions or would like additional information. We look forward to assisting you with your homestay needs!
Homestay Application
Homestay Agreement