Host an Exchange Student

Families who host international high school students often tell us about the joy of experiencing another culture while sharing the American way of life. Cultural exchange experiences can be life-changing for the high schooler AND for the host family. Host Families often develop long-lasting relationships with their foreign exchange students and their families. Open your heart and home to an international exchange student and perhaps you will find yourself halfway around the globe celebrating with them and their family in the years that follow your hosting experience. 

Who can host?

Host Families come in many varieties. You can host if you are an empty nester, have a young family, or if you have a high schooler too. You can host if you are at least 26 years old.

You can host for a full school year, or a partial year. You can host someone from a country you’d like to learn more about. You can host a high schooler from a country you’d like to travel to one day, or who speaks a language you want to learn or practice.  You can choose a foreign student to host who has the same interests as your family!  Curious?  Meet our Students who need Host Families!

Why Host with Greenheart Exchange?

• Experience: Since 1985, Greenheart Exchange has placed over 25,000 international exchange students with host families in the USA. Greenheart provides a strong support system to our students and to our host families.
• Diversity: Students come from a range of cultures and backgrounds, with more than 60 countries represented. Greenheart provides a wealth of cultural exchange opportunities and ideas for our families, communities, and students.
• Civic-minded: Greenheart Exchange encourages all foreign exchange students and interested host families to volunteer and give back to their host communities to fully experience life in the USA.

“We are truly blessed with the experiences that the Greenheart Exchange program has brought to our lives.”  — The Lowry’s, a Greenheart Exchange host family in Texas

Greenheart Cares About the Safety of Our Students and Hosts

The Department of State implemented a toll free number (1-866-283-9090) for secondary school students, which was effective August 1, 2009. The toll free number can be used by host families, exchange students and the public to report circumstances impacting the students’ health, safety and well being during their exchange visitor programs. You may also email the Department at jvisas[at]state[dot]gov.

• Choose to host for a full 10-month academic year, or a 5-month semester
• Provide a separate bed, 3 meals daily, and local transportation
• Treat your exchange student as a member of the family
• Host families can choose between students who are on program in the U.S. on the J-1 Visa or a FLEX or YES Programs grant recipient
• Host families are not responsible for students personal spending money or providing their medical insurance

In a normal year, hundreds of international students come to the U.S. on our Short-term Cultural Exchange programs. These are students traveling in groups who are visiting the U.S. to experience American culture and to improve their English language skills. 

Hosting one of these students is a great way to get a taste of what it’s like to be a host family. Greenheart Exchange seeks families in various U.S. communities to host for a few short weeks during the summer, or over a holiday break. 

 Academic Year 2024-25 INFORMATION COMING SOON.

To inquire about hosting a group student, please click here.

Greenheart Exchange also needs host families for international high school exchange students in these scholarship programs: 

• U.S. Department of State’s Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program
• U.S. Department of State’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program

Both programs are administered by a consortium of nonprofit organizations led by American Councils for International Education.

Hosting a FLEX or YES Exchange Student

The Department of State recognizes that youth exchange is a key component to building bridges between citizens of the U.S. and countries around the world. 

The FLEX and YES scholarship programs are designed to bring understanding to individuals, families, communities, and the world.  

FLEX and YES students are recruited and carefully selected as the top students in their home countries. They go through a rigorous selection process before they are awarded a scholarship to participate in the program. 

Here are just a few reasons why you should host a FLEX or YES student:

• FLEX and YES students arrive eager to learn more about American values and ideals.
• They are often top-of-their-class academically and will be required to participate in activities that teach civic responsibility.
• FLEX and YES students hope to serve as effective ambassadors and to bring down stereotypical barriers in communities across the United States.

Fill our “Host Now” inquiry form to get started!

About the FLEX Program

The Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) was established in 1992 shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. The program provides an opportunity for students to gain leadership experience, learn about American society, and foster mutual understanding across cultures.

FLEX students are from the following countries (may vary annually): Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine.

About the YES Program

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES) was established in October 2002, in response to the events of September 11, 2001. The program awards scholarships to high school students from countries with a significant Muslim population.

YES students come from more than 40 countries.

Application Information for Participants

Interested participants should apply through American Councils, as Greenheart Exchange only acts as an approved placement organization–we are not responsible for recruitment of participants.

1. Fill out the inquiry form!
2. Look for an email or expect a call from a Greenheart Exchange Local Coordinator (someone who lives in your area). They will answer any questions and provide you with more information about the hosting experience.
3. Complete a host family application (online).
4. Meet your local coordinator in-person.
5. Select your exchange student.
6. Welcome to the Greenheart Family! Get ready for the experience of a lifetime!

Do you know a family who you think would be a great host family?

Complete this form and you can earn $300 if they decide to host!

The details:

• The referred family must be NEW to Greenheart and have NOT previously hosted OR worked with Greenheart.
• Referral payment will be issued via Visa Reward Virtual Account (formerly known as Visa gift card) which can be used online anywhere Visa/Mastercard is accepted.
• The referral payment is issued ONLY if the family moves forward to host a full year or semester student with Greenheart. Payments are sent out AFTER the student arrives.
• Immediate family members of Greenheart Local Coordinators are NOT eligible to submit referrals.

Want to help find host families for high school exchange students? 

If you are extroverted and a self starter with a passion for cultural exchange, maybe placing and supporting high school students during their exchange year is for you.

Local Coordinators help find host families who are perfectly matched to incoming international exchange students. Our best Local Coordinators are curious and motivated individuals. In addition to the rewarding experience of finding families in their community who are interested in hosting a foreign exchange student, Local Coordinators also monitor and supervise exchange students and help them adjust to their new life in America. 

As a Local Coordinator you will be expected to:

• Actively seek volunteer host families in their community
• Provide guidance and support to your foreign exchange students and host families
• Build relationships with local high schools
• Represent Greenheart Exchange and other Greenheart programs in a professional manner
• Provide information to American students, families, and communities interested study and travel abroad through Greenheart Travel or other Greenheart-related opportunities.

As a Local Coordinator:

• You are an Independent contractor role (eligible to earn a payment)
• Have the ability to Part-time, work from home
• Must be at least 26 years old
• Grow skills sets with the ability to attend professional development and training workshops
• Have opportunity for domestic and international travel to annual conferences
• Experience the rich world of cultural exchange and bring your community closer together through the support of the Greenheart Exchange family.

Get Started

1. Tell us you’re interested! Complete the inquiry form and a representative in your area will get in touch with you.
2. Complete an online application.
3. Have a phone interview and discuss next steps.
4. Get ready for the experience of a lifetime!

Through careful consideration and cooperation, Greenheart has worked with host families, students, and schools throughout the U.S. to maintain this vital exchange program while keeping everyone’s health and safety at the forefront. We are grateful to all our stakeholders for their unwavering commitment to making the world a better place through cultural exchange even as we navigate the aftermath of a global pandemic.

Greenheart will not be requiring host families, participants, or local coordinators to receive a COVID vaccine. However, everyone on the BridgeUSA program through Greenheart Exchange is expected to follow all local and state health guidelines, as well as international travel requirements.

Please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for public health and safety updates.