Updated April 27, 2023

As we welcome international students back to UVic and Victoria, our top priority is the health and safety of our students, host families, campus and community. The UVic Homestay Program follows the regulations and recommendations of the federal and the provincial governments, as well as the local public health authority.

TRAVEL - New measures and requirements

You can read more information about the new travel requirements at the following webpage: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid.

All COVID-19 border requirements, including vaccination, mandatory use of ArriveCAN, and any testing and quarantine/isolation requirements, are no longer in effect for all travelers entering Canada whether by land, air or sea.

For information on travelling to Canada, please visit: https://continuingstudies.uvic.ca/help-centre/travelling-to-canada-and-self-isolation

Homestay placements

Many students are requesting to live with vaccinated hosts, and many hosts are requesting vaccinated students. To facilitate placements, we are asking both hosts and students to voluntarily disclose whether they are vaccinated or unvaccinated/choose not to disclose. This information is confidential and will only be used to match hosts and students who are concerned about vaccination status.

The UVic Homestay program encourages all students to be fully vaccinated (meaning students have received at least two doses of Health Canada or World Health Organization approved vaccines).  This will facilitate placement with a local family.  Additionally, we advise all students to comply with their respective country's vaccination requirements for re-entry instead of relying on a PCR test before leaving. This approach can help  mitigate the costs associated with testing and other potential challenges in the event of a positive PCR result during the departure test. These expenses may include but are not limited to accommodation costs, insurance claims, supplementary aid, and flight alterations.

The following priority requirements and considerations will be in effect regardless of which phase of BC's Restart Plan that the province is currently in:

• The UVic Homestay Program expects that students and homestays will familiarize themselves with BC's Restart Plan, specifically how to keep transmission low:
  • Stay at home and keep a safe distance from family when you have cold or flu symptoms,
  • Continue to practice proper recommended hygiene guidelines,
  • Practice physical distancing if household members are sick or have symptoms.

• If a household member (including homestay students) were to contract COVID-19 or express associated symptoms (coughing, sneezing, fever, etc.) during the homestay contract period, the program will work with the student and host to follow public health guidelines.
  • The UVic Homestay Program aims to avoid spreading COVID-19 with unnecessary relocations. Our preference is to keep the student in place, in accordance with Public Health direction.

UVic Homestay Program Safe Arrival Protocols for Students (PDF)

UVic Homestay Program Safe Arrival Protocol and Host Expectations (PDF)

Additional program rules and restrictions may be implemented without notice based on requirements implemented by UVic Health & Safety, the BC Government, the Canadian Government, and other governmental agencies.

If the BC Government assesses that the province is to return to a previous phase of BC's Restart Plan, the UVic Homestay Program services and requirements will match those as outlined by the government and hosts and students will be expected to follow those requirements depending on the phase as determined by the Province of BC. Participants who breach UVic Homestay requirements may have their homestay contract terminated and be removed from the program.

All students must review information on travel restrictions and current COVID-19 regulations sent by Student Services. Students will be expected to adhere to COVID-19-related protocols, guidelines, regulations and restrictions; failure to do so may result in the removal from the Homestay Program. As regulations change or are lifted, homestay will revise fees/requirements accordingly.

In order to limit the contact between households due to COVID-19, UVic Homestay will only be accepting Two Week Notice forms to switch hosts on a case by case basis, and generally in cases of emergency or contract violation. 

Travel restrictions while in UVic Homestay

We strongly advise students planning to travel to communicate their plans with their homestay host. Depending on host comfort level, availability and travel advisories, students may need to revise their plans or travel after their placement contract ends. For students that insist on travelling, and go against the wishes of their current homestay host, the UVic Homestay program cannot guarantee another homestay placement due to limited host availability.

For additional details on travel restrictions, please visit our Travelling to Canada and self-isolation page.

 

• Posted December 9, 2021