Homestay Placement

Homestay is a valuable part of your study-abroad experience. It is important to us that every International student studying in New Westminster feels safe and comfortable with his or her homestay family.

If you have questions regarding homestay placement, .

What Services do we Offer?

Our Homestay Manager determines the needs of each student and matches his or her needs to a local homestay family. For example, if you are allergic to cats, we will arrange for you to stay with a homestay family that does not have a cat in the house.

We currently have many local families involved in the program, some with international students and some waiting for students. Every homestay family has been carefully selected and screened.

Homestay families provide students with the necessary items to ensure they are warm and comfortable. Services provided by the homestay family include:

  • A private bedroom furnished with a bed, dresser, desk, chair, desk lamp and closet
  • Three meals a day with nutritious snacks and beverages
  • In-house laundry facility
  • Invitations to join in family activities
  • An English-speaking environment
  • Airport pick-up when you arrive in Canada

How much does Homestay Cost?

Fee Item Notes
$500 (Year) / $300 (Semester)  Homestay application fee One-time fee (non-refundable)
$1100* per month Homestay monthly fee Payable to the homestay family at the beginning of every month

* Homestay is optional, and available only to students 13 years of age and older in upper Middle School and Secondary (High) school.
*Fees are subject to change without notice.

* $36 per additional nights during August or January orientation

Homestay Student Placement Process

All of our homestay families are carefully screened, interviewed and selected for their suitability to host an international student. Each home has been visited by our Homestay Manager and every adult in a host family must complete a background check with local and national police agencies.

The following process outlines how an international student is matched with a suitable host family:

  1. Student completes the homestay application form.
    We request that students complete their application form thoroughly and with as much detail as possible.
  2. Homestay Manager matches the student with a host family
    After receiving the application the Homestay Manager will match the student with an available host family using the following criteria: Suitability: This refers to the host family meeting the requests and conditions mentioned in the student application. Location: The host family must live an acceptable distance from the school. Availability: The host family must have a room open and be present for the duration that the student will be staying with them.
  3. Custodial Form Completion
    In the New Westminster School District the host family acts as the custodial parents of the student living in their home. When the student has been successfully matched with a host family the host family will complete a notarized custodial form.
  4. Receipt of Custodial Form
    Following the notarization of the custodial form the student will receive both this and the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) to enable them to apply for a study permit.
  5. Pre-Arrival
    We encourage students and their families to correspond with their host families before they arrive in Canada.

International student Responsibilities

Arrival procedures for Students

Student Arrival Form