We are currently seeking host families for the 2027-28 school year!
Program Details
Dates
August – June
Overview
Every year, States’ 4-H hosts up to 20 high school students from Japan and South Korea. These students participate in an arrival orientation in Seattle prior to flying to their host states where they will spend an academic year at a local high school and engaged with their host family’s communities. States’ 4-H has been welcoming AYP students on J-1 visas since 1987!
States’ 4-H AYP students from Japan and South Korea are selected to participate in the program based on their performance on the ELTiS test, their application materials, and an interview conducted in English. Some of these students previously visited the USA as part of States’ 4-H Summer exchange.
Currently, students come through one of three international partner organizations:
- Korea 4-H (South Korea)
- Labo International Exchange (Japan)
- LEX/ Hippo Family Club (Japan)
Host families and students alike look forward to the opportunity to expanding their families through the exchange. On their evaluation, one host family wrote that their student:
“
... wanted to be a part of our family from the beginning. We are all very close to him and enjoyed watching him play baseball and wrestle. He had many friends and participated in our activities…his easy going attitude and respect for others was a great reminder for all of us.
”
Basic Timeline
| Fall | Students Apply for the Program | |
| Early Winter | Students are selected | |
| February - July | Host families are identified and matched with Students | |
| March - July | Students participate in virtual meetings to prepare for their exchange | |
| First Week of August | Students arrive to Seattle for an arrival orientation | |
| August | Students arrive in their host states | |
| August -June | Students live with host families and attend high school | |
| June | Students depart USA and return to their home country |
Frequently Asked Questions
AYP Host families are required to:
• Welcome the student as a part of your family.
• Provide a private bedroom or a shared bedroom with child/youth of the same gender.
• Provide meals for the student.
Yes! Our Academic Year Programs welcome host families with or without children.
AYP students are between the ages of 15-18.
Students have health insurance and their own spending money. Your main cost would be to provide meals for the student and to pay for any activities that you participate in together as a family.
Yes. Students pass a language proficiency exam and are interviewed in English before being accepted to the program. Students' language skills vary, but all have studied english and will have basic English proficiency.
All host families must complete an application and screening process that includes an application, family and home photos, criminal background checks for everyone over 18, references, an in-home interview, financial disclosure (J-1 visa rules require that host families cannot receive any government subsidies for food or housing), and confirmation that the local high school will accept the student.
When you host through States’ 4-H, you partner with one of the largest youth-serving organizations in America. 4-H is built on a model of positive youth development. We see hosting as an educational opportunity not just for the exchange student, but also for the host family, host school, and entire host community. States’ 4-H programs focus on life skill development, including communication, tolerance, respect for others, and engaged citizenship.
Our vast and multi-layered support network means there is always someone available to help if you have a question, problem, or just need advice on how to handle a particular situation. We recognize that opening your home to a teenager from a different country is a big change for most families, and we are here to support you every step of the way!
States 4-H is also designated by the U.S. Department of State as a sponsor of J-1 Visa Secondary School Student Exchange programs and has been granted full listing by the Council for Standards on International Educational Travel since 1997.
Questions?
Host families and students alike look forward to the opportunity to expanding their families through the States 4-H’s academic-year hosting program. Get your questions answered and take the first step by sending us a message. We look forward to hearing from you!