Study in America

Attend High School in the US

Are you looking for the adventure of a lifetime? Do you love meeting new people and having new experiences? Is your dream to attend school in America?

Arrive with a dream, leave with a new family.

CHI’s Academic Year Program (AYP) is your chance to study in America and to spend either an academic year (10 months) or a semester (5 months) living with a volunteer host family.

The requirements to study in America

High school students who are ages 15 to 18 ½ upon arrival
A score of at least 212 on the ELTiS exam
Consistently receive good grades at your current school
Maturity, flexibility, and independence
A passion for people and for learning about new cultures
A desire to have fun!

Trust CHI as your J-1 visa sponsor

Continuous Support

We give you all the support you need. Living in another country can be scary! But our dedicated field staff will be there to greet you, provide an orientation, and organize activities to help you feel excited and safe. Our Coordinators are always just a text message or phone call away!

Safe and Certified

We are a U.S. Department of State-designated, CSIET certified Exchange Visitor Program sponsor that has developed a positive reputation in this industry. You can be sure you’re in the hands of an official and experienced organization.

BETTER PLACEMENTS

We work hard to find the perfect host family to make your experience the best that it can be, and our focus is making sure you leave the U.S. with new friends, a new family, and a new perspective.

Fun Activities

Many of our coordinators and administrators plan events for our CHI students. They are passionate about showing you the real America! Your program will be filled with engaging events and experiences in your new home community.

FOCUS ON YOU, OUR PARTICIPANT

We have Program Administrators, a Committee, and Operation Managers behind the scenes whose entire jobs are dedicated to you; to making sure that you’re safe, that your agency and parents are aware of any issues that arise, and that you have a successful, happy program.

We are a U.S. Department of State-designated, CSIET certified Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor.

How the Academic Year Program WOrks

Application

Contact a partner agency in your home or a nearby country. We can also send you a list of partners near you. They will set you up with an application and let you know what you need to submit in order to be considered.

Admission and Visa

Our Admissions Department reviews and accepts your application. We issue and send your agency the Form DS-2019, which is the official U.S. Department of State document that allows you to apply for and receive your J-1 visa. Once you receive the DS-2019 you can make your visa appointment. When the visa is granted, you are all set to travel to America.

Homestay

Meanwhile, our Field and Operations staff work hard to find you the perfect family and school as soon as possible! Once we find the right host family for you, you can start to get to know your family by email.

Depart to the US and Meet Your Family and Friends!

Your agency will book your flight according to your school start date. When you arrive, we will give you a student orientation and introduce you to other exchange students and the surrounding community. When school starts, you will begin the process of cultural exchange! You’ll have the chance to get out there, meet people, and participate in fun extracurricular activities.

Have Fun! Become a Part of the Family!

Once in the US, your job is simply to do well in school, get involved in activities, and become a new member of your host family. That means spending time with them, sharing your culture, and showing them how much you appreciate their willingness to host you.

See You Again!

After your program, you must return to your home country. It is always hard saying goodbye, but remember that your program allows you to meet and live with people whom you will know for the rest of your life and whom you would have never been able to meet! As we say in America, it’s not really goodbye – it’s “see you later.”

Advice to our future exchange students

Exchange students learn a lot during their time in the USA. We asked some former students to give advice to our future exchange students. Here's what they said: