Pacific Cascades Area
AFS Intercultural Programs

AFS is the leading high school foreign exchange program, with opportunities to live and study in over 50 countries worldwide. 

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VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION &

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK

If you are interested in volunteering with AFS and working with students and families, you must REGISTER with AFS and consent to a criminal background check.

If you have not registered, be aware that the US Department of State (CSIET) and AFS require that anyone working with students must register with AFS and have a national criminal background check. Volunteers must begin this process well ahead of an AFS event so a list of eligible volunteers can be created.

Why a national criminal background check?

• To enable AFS to maintain the highest level of quality in our programs and to ensure the safety and welfare of AFS participants.
• A national check is needed as people move between states and might have a criminal record in a different state from where they are currently living.
• It is common practice for any organization that works or has direct contact with youth/minors to require criminal background checks.

Who pays for the criminal background check?

• AFS-USA will cover the cost of the criminal background check for volunteers and host family members.

How will the criminal background check process work?

• AFS has created an online process for conducting criminal background checks through a secure website.
• Members of the host family household and volunteer applicant 18 and over will be asked to sign a consent form online authorizing a criminal background check.
• Generally the checks conducted by providers take less than 72 hours to be completed from provision of details to generation of a report.

Step 1: Go to the AFS National website at www.afs.org/usa. On the left sidebar of the home page, click on “Volunteer”. Page down to the Volunteer On-line Application.   Complete the applications and click on Submit at the bottom.  There is also a reference form that you can open, save, and email to your references.  They can in turn email their reference to AFS USA.

Step 2: After completing and submitting your registration form, reading the agreement and signing online, you will receive an email containing a link to a secure website where you can give your consent to a criminal background check. You will need to submit your full legal name, date of birth and social security number online to Intellicorp Records, Inc to start the background check.

Step 3: Once the background check is completed you will be notified that your registration is complete and you will be eligible to work with hosted students and families.

If you are not a current volunteer, there is a training packet on the national website for new volunteers. It has very interesting and useful information about AFS. This is recommend reading for everyone whether you are a new or current volunteer.

If you have question, please feel free to contact the AFS Registration Staff at 1-800-AFS-INFO, press 3 to connect to the department or email to: vol.reg@afs.org or to talk to a local AFS volunteer, email info@afscascades.org and your local volunteer will contact you.

Last revision July 11, 2007