Where do international students stay during boarding school breaks?

Know the break calendar early

Ask the school when each break starts and ends, when the dorms close and reopen, and what happens on short breaks and long weekends. Do this before you book any flight. Schools publish a calendar, and the student handbook explains the housing rules.

The main options

• Going home. The simplest for many families, but the flights are a cost and the trip can be long for a short break.
• A U.S. guardian or host family. Many families arrange this, and some guardian services host students during breaks. Get the dates, what is included and the price in writing. Read what a guardian does.
• Relatives in the United States. Often possible if the school accepts it. Tell the school who the student will stay with.
• A school-arranged program. Some schools keep a few dorms open on certain breaks or organize trips. Ask about the rules, the cost and the supervision.

Plan the paperwork

• Give the school written details for every break: where the student will be, with whom and how to reach them. Many schools ask for a letter from the parents naming the adult responsible. See the guardian appointment letter template.
• If you travel outside the United States, carry the passport, a valid visa, the Form I-20 and proof of funds in your hand luggage. Ask the school's international office whether the I-20 needs a new travel signature, and check that the visa is still valid for your return. See the travel day checklist.
• Check the admission period on the I-94, since F-1 students are now admitted for a fixed period. See how long the I-20 lets an F-1 student stay.

Think about safety and cost

• Agree on who is reachable day and night, and who takes the student to a doctor if needed.
• Add break costs to your budget: flights, housing during breaks, a guardian service and spending money. See the budget checklist.
• Parents who want to visit need their own U.S. visa, and the process takes time, so apply well ahead.

Browse boarding schools and read where our information comes from. Always confirm each rule with the school.