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Terms & Conditions

Definition and Interpretations

“Student” means the child or children placed with the Host Family.

“Contact Details” means all addresses, whether residential or work, telephone numbers and email addresses as detailed by Gateway and the Host Family in the Placement Documentation or as updated from time to time;

“Gateway” means Gateway Corporation USA  of 600 N. Rosemead Blvd. Suite 115, Pasadena, CA 91107.

“Host Family Residence” means the host family’s’ primary residence where the student is accommodated

“Host Family” means the primary host and any other relatives through marriage; off-spring or persons normally resident at the host family residence

 “Placement Documentation” means all documents given to the Host Family as part of this agreement including, without limitation, any rules or guidelines provided by Gateway from time to time; and

“Placement” means the duration of the Child’s residence with the Host Family.

Duties and Responsibilities of Gateway

Accommodation

i) Gateway will place students with the host family using its best judgement in terms of fit between host and student

ii) Gateway will only place students in accommodation that meets or exceeds the Minimum Homestay Criteria as set out in Appendix A.

iii) Gateway will only place students with host families who have completed the necessary police and security checks and who have passed through the induction and training as stipulated by Gateway

iv) Gateway will provide hosts with all the information that it holds and deems relevant to share with the host in order to assist with a successful placement

v) Gateway will provide the host family with supporting documentation and information that will help hosts develop themselves as hosts. Other sources of training and development will be provided from time to time or as deemed necessary

vi) Gateway will maintain regular contact with the hosts and provide a 24 hour emergency service to assist hosts in difficulty

vii) Gateway will carry regular feedback with students placed with host families and will use such information as is provided to build profile on hosts and assess suitability for continued hosting.

Guardianship

i) Gateway will serve throughout the student’s say as the student’s educational guardian and it is Gateway that will act in loco parentis whilst the student is in the US.

ii) Gateway will provide guardianship to the standards set out in Appendix B

iii) Gateway will employ Local Coordinators (LCs), who are own-language speakers, to provide the guardianship service. Those LCs will be employed following the necessary police and security checks and will only be in contact with students once they have completed the company’s training and induction programme.

iv) Gateway will provide the parents with an emergency phone for contact 24hours a day

v) Gateway will at all times act in the best interests of the student.

vi)  Gateway will maintain regular contact with the parents of the student and provide feedback on academic progress and the student’s welfare.

vii)  Gateway will make available to the student while in the US options to further their studies or to provide recreational activities (these may incur additional charges)

viii) Gateway will represent and act on behalf of the parents in communication with the partner schools

ix) Gateway will provide parents with a current fee list – see Appendix C

Duties and Responsibilities of the Parents

i) The parents will supply Gateway with all necessary information so that it may act fully and properly in the best interest of the student. Failure to give such information or to falsify any such information given may result in the student being withdrawn from school, accommodation and guardianship

ii) The parents will pay all necessary fees and costs in a timely fashion and in accordance with the payment dates set out in any invoice

iii) The parents will provide Gateway with an emergency contact telephone number that is accessible 24 hours a day

iv) The parents will notify Gateway in a timely fashion of any changes to personal circumstance or relevant data

v) The parents will respond to any reasonable request from Gateway for support and intervention with the student

vi) The parents will provide full and accurate medical information for the student and will update Gateway should any such information change – see Appendix D

General Terms and Conditions

a)  Rules and regulations: students are subject to the rules and regulations governing the particular school location attended and of the Gateway service

b) Arrivals and departures: All accommodation is booked from the Saturday or Sunday before the course start date until the Saturday morning after the course end date, unless otherwise advised. A partial week may be counted as 1 week’s accommodation

c) Late arrivals, vacations and absences: If the student begins the enrolment late or are absent during your course, no refund will be made for the time missed. Periods of absence cannot be made up with a free extension of the course. Please be aware that any unauthorised absence may risk a student’s visa status

d) Meals and classes missed: No refunds or substitutions will be made for meals or classes missed due to exams, excursions, internships, first day orientation or other obligations that fall outside the normal schedule.

e) Prices: Gateway has the right to change prices due to tax increases, governmental actions or other events beyond our control.

f) Expulsion/Suspension: Any student, who commits a criminal offence, violates the student conduct code or school policy, has a very poor attendance record or fails to pay an amount he or she is directly or indirectly liable to pay in order to undertake the Gateway accommodation and guardianship service, may be expelled or suspended. No refund will be given and the immigration authorities will be informed.

g) Health declaration: Parents must report on the attached medical form any mental or physical illness, allergy, disability or condition that may interfere with their ability to successfully complete their programme, that may impact the health and well-being of any other student or staff member, that may require monitoring, treatment or emergency intervention of any kind during the student’s anticipated period of enrolment, or that may require special accommodations. Gateway reserves the right to reject an applicant or terminate a student’s enrolment in the programme if the student’s continued participation represents a risk to their health and safety or to the health and safety of other students or staff, or if, notwithstanding reasonable accommodations, in the opinion of Gateway, the student’s physical or mental condition makes the student unable or unlikely to successfully complete their programme. The US government requires all students under 18 to submit a waiver form and signature of this agreement constitutes such a waiver.

h) Liability: Gateway, its directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents are not liable for damages, injuries, illnesses and violations to people or goods, unless such liability is legally imposed.

i) Force majeure: It is a basic stipulation of the agreement/ contract between parents/students and Gateway, its affiliates or its representatives (collectively referred to as ‘Gateway), that Gateway is not liable in cases where Gateway is unable to fulfill any services to which they are contractually bound because of fire, natural disaster, act of government, failure of suppliers or subcontractors, labour disputes or other reasons which are beyond their control.

j) Payment deadline: All costs must be paid in full no later than 30 days before the course starts. If a booking is made less than 30 days before the course starts, the fees are immediately payable. If payment in full has not been received, the student will not be allowed to start the programme.

k) Damages and costs: Gateway disclaims any responsibility or liability whatsoever to the Hosts for actions of any student that may result in the following – including, but not limited to, personal injury, property damage, and any other costs and expenses (including, but not limited to telephone charges and other costs and expenses). Any such costs are the sole liability of the parent/student concerned, and will be invoiced accordingly or taken from a damage deposit where held.

l) Travel and Medical Insurance: It is a condition of acceptance on to any Gateway programme that a student has sufficient insurance in place. Gateway can advise on policies. On arrival details of the insurance must be provided

m) Holiday Accommodation: Gateway accommodation is provided as part of the package for all term time weeks and Half term weeks. Accommodation is not included for the Christmas, Easter or Summer vacations, and this will be charged to the family in advance. Failure to pay such fees in advance will result in no accommodation being made available. Any such accommodation is only available in blocks of 7 nights

n) Temporary accommodation: It may be necessary, from time to time, to arrange temporary accommodation for students due to host family emergencies or other circumstance beyond Gateway’s control. Parents will be duly informed of such arrangements

  • o)  Reassignment of accommodation: It may be necessary, from time to time, to arrange alternative accommodation for students due to circumstance beyond Gateway’s control. Parents will be duly informed of such new arrangements.

Complaints and Complaint Resolution

a)  Both parties to the agreement will follow and abide by the outcome of Gateway Complaint Procedure as is current at the time of the complaint being made

Cancellation

Cancellation refers to the point from booking up to the arrival day.

a) If the service is cancelled then a refund will only be considered in the case of visa refusal – where acceptable evidence of such refusal must be produced.

b) Short term supplementary accommodation can also be booked. To cancel this accommodation with no penalty. 2 weeks notice must be given. Less than 2 weeks notice ( being 14 calendar days)  but more than 1 week ( 7 calendar days) will incur a 50% penalty; less than 1 week ( 7 calendar days) will incur a penalty of 100% of the total booking value.

Notice and Termination

a) Either party may terminate this agreement on 1 full term’s written notice.

b) Any refunds due will be considered as long as the notice period is observed. Refunds are solely at the discretion of the directors of Gateway or its affiliates

Agreement

In signing this agreement parents acknowledge, consent and permit the following:

a) a person under the age of 18 is legally a child in the US

b) consent to my child participating in off-site and extra-curricular activities arranged by either the school or Gateway, on the understanding that proper and full risk assessments have been carried out.

c)  that my child is not permitted to move into alternative accommodation

d) that photographs images and quotes may possibly be used by Gateway for marketing purposes as well as administrative purposes. I will inform Gateway should I not wish such use to be made.

e) that the school or Gateway staff make emergency decisions for my child while my child is on the Gateway programme

f)  that Gateway and Gateway staff may , following correct procedure, permit and allow my child to participate in overnight stays away from the host family, as appropriate and suitable

g) that my child will obey all United States laws

h) that my child will obey and follow all reasonable instruction from Gateway or school staff

i)  that my child will behave responsibly and maturely during the programme

j)  that my child will follow established Gateway procedures and policies and that failure to do so may result in suspension or expulsion from the programme and the school

k) that Gateway, the school, its staff and homestay hosts may administer first aid and non-prescription medicines

l) that where a medical emergency arises, Gateway will use reasonable endeavours to obtain my consent before any action or medical treatment is administered. However, I understand that where it is not possible to obtain my consent, or where emergency treatment is required, Gateway will act on medical advice and do what it is in the best interest of my child.

m) that information about my child’s medical conditions being given to selected members of staff and homestay hosts and any other persons or organizations whom Gateway deems necessary.

n) that the medical information I have submitted is correct and that I will pay any expenses resulting from any required medical treatment.

  • o) if any clause in this agreement is held by any competent authority to be void or unenforceable in whole or part, this agreement shall continue to be valid as to the other clauses and the remainder of the affected clause.

p) this agreement is governed by the laws of the United States of America and shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the US courts.