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Goal100™LEARNING
Opportunities

🏡 Host an exchange student

How hosting a high school exchange student works in the U.S., what host families and schools agree to, and official programs that place students.

← All opportunities (with filters)

  1. Pick an organization and look it up on the CSIET list and the State Department sponsor search.
  2. Apply; a local coordinator interviews everyone at home and visits.
  3. Adults 18+ in the home get background checks.
  4. The school principal signs a written acceptance.
  5. Your student arrives; the coordinator checks in every month.

10 entries

The rules for hosting (22 CFR 62.25, J-1 secondary school students)

FreeNational (U.S.)
Who
Host families, schools and sponsors of J-1 high school exchange students.
What
Students are 15 to 18 years and 6 months at start and stay 1-2 semesters. Host families get no payment. A sponsor interviews every household member in person, checks two references, visits the home, and runs criminal background checks (including the sex offender registry) on household members 18 and older. A local coordinator has monthly contact with the student and family and lives within 120 miles. No more than two students per home, and not from the same country or language. Students may not hold jobs (babysitting or yard work is fine).
When
Placements are reported by Aug 31 (academic year) or Jan 15 (spring).
Cost
Hosting is unpaid.

Source note: Read through Cornell LII's copy of the regulation, because ecfr.gov did not load here.

Official site (opens in a new tab) · Checked Nov 7, 2026

J-1 Secondary School Student program page and sponsor search

FreeNational (U.S.)
Who
Families and schools.
What
Official U.S. Department of State page: what host families provide (a bed, storage space, three meals a day, rides to school activities) and a "Find a Program Sponsor" search.
When
Any time.
Cost
Free.

Official site (opens in a new tab) · Checked Nov 7, 2026

What the school must agree to

FreeNational (U.S.)
Who
Principals and district leaders.
What
Before the student's visa form (DS-2019) is issued, the sponsor needs written acceptance from the principal or an authorized administrator, with tuition terms in writing. Exchange students may join school activities; sports need approval from the district and the state athletic association (in New York, NYSPHSAA).
When
Before placement.
Cost
Tuition terms are agreed in writing.
New York notes
Ask your district office who signs exchange-student acceptance letters.

Official site (opens in a new tab) · Checked Nov 7, 2026

FLEX Global (U.S. Department of State)

FreeInternational
Who
Host families and schools.
What
Fully funded academic-year exchange that brings high school students from 31 countries for 2027-28 to live with U.S. host families. Builds on the FLEX and YES programs. Families and schools can apply to host.
When
Check the official site.
Cost
Hosting is unpaid.

Official site (opens in a new tab) · Checked Nov 7, 2026

Kennedy-Lugar YES (host a student)

FreeInternational
Who
Host families.
What
U.S. Department of State program for high school students from countries such as Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kosovo, Malaysia, North Macedonia and Pakistan. Spring 2027 semester is promoted now.
When
Spring semester 2027 (January to June).
Cost
Hosting is unpaid.

Official site (opens in a new tab) · Checked Nov 7, 2026

Host with AFS-USA

FreeInternational
Who
Families.
What
AFS-USA hosts students from 80 countries; online info sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
When
Check the official site.
Cost
Hosting is unpaid.

Official site (opens in a new tab) · Checked Nov 7, 2026

Host with Rotary Youth Exchange

FreeInternational
Who
Families near a Rotary club that takes part.
What
Long-term Rotary exchange students live with several host families during the year.
When
Ask your local Rotary club.
Cost
Hosting is unpaid.

Official site (opens in a new tab) · Checked Nov 7, 2026

Host with YFU USA

FreeInternational
Who
Families.
What
Nonprofit exchange organization with host-family information at host.yfu.org.
When
Check the official site.
Cost
Hosting is unpaid.

Official site (opens in a new tab) · Checked Nov 7, 2026

Host with ASSE

FreeInternational
Who
Families.
What
Exchange organization on the CSIET 2026-27 list ("ASSE and World Heritage International").
When
Check the official site.
Cost
Hosting is unpaid.

Official site (opens in a new tab) · Checked Nov 7, 2026

Check the organization on the CSIET list

FreeNational (U.S.)
Who
Families and schools.
What
Before you host, look the organization up on the CSIET Advisory List and the State Department sponsor search.
When
Before you sign anything.
Cost
Free.

Official site (opens in a new tab) · Checked Nov 7, 2026

General information only. Goal100 is not connected to these programs. Dates, fees and rules change; always read the official site before you apply. Every entry was checked on Nov 7, 2026.