Hosting an international exchange student benefits everyone involved. Your entire family will learn about a new country and culture without leaving home. Host families and exchange students share daily life, meals, and holidays. They discuss current events in their respective communities and explore cross-cultural perceptions and values. This intimacy creates lasting relationships that ultimately shape the United States' reputation abroad.
“We are honored to have such an incredible person as an exchange student. She delights us with her wit, grace, and kindness every day. Inviting Aqsha into our home has been one of the best things we have ever done.” - Host Mom
"My host family […] welcomed me to their home and treated me like their own daughter. They gave me not only a place to stay and live my exchange, but they also gave me the sense of belonging here. They made everything more beautiful, opened my eyes to things in life I never noticed before, and took me to places I used to dream about. They are not only my family, but also the people to whom I should be thankful for inspiring me and for making my experience ten times more special and beautiful." - YES Student
Each year, the U.S. Department of State sponsors about 1,700 high school students from around the world to spend the academic year in America, living with volunteer host families and attending a local high school. Visit hosting.state.gov to learn more about hosting one of our amazing inbound FLEX, YES, and CBYX students and to request a local placement representative to contact you.