40 Years of Exchange Excellence
How to Host a Foreign Exchange Student You Already Know
Do you have a friend, colleague or former host sibling abroad whose child wants to spend a semester or school year in America? You can host them through NWSE. We organize the Direct Exchange together with you and provide end-to-end support: J-1 visa sponsorship, acceptance at your local high school and a Local Coordinator nearby. Turn your international friendship into a high school exchange!
No obligation. Takes only a few minutes.
Hosting at a Glance
Who You Can Host
The child (age 15–18½) of a friend, colleague or former host family abroad. Relatives cannot host.
How Long
One semester (about 5 months) or one school year (about 10 months).
Your Role
Volunteer host family: a bed, meals and family life. Hosts are not paid; the student's family covers insurance, airfare and pocket money.
What NWSE Handles
J-1 visa sponsorship (DS-2019), school acceptance, a Local Coordinator nearby and 24/7 support.
What is a J-1 Direct Exchange?
Standard or "one-way" student exchange programs are based on "blind placements," where host families are matched with exchange students they have never met. A Direct Exchange (also called a direct placement or self-placed exchange) allows you to host a student you already know, such as a family friend, a former exchange partner or a colleague's child.
Direct Exchange hosting is a popular option for families with existing international connections. When you host the child of someone you already know, you're not just starting a new friendship; you're continuing a meaningful relationship. This model is ideal for former exchange students who want to give back to the program that shaped their lives, or for international professionals who want to share their American community with the children of global friends or colleagues.
Hosting the child of someone you already know and trust offers a unique level of comfort and peace of mind. The initial "ice-breaking" period is often much shorter because you already understand the student's family values, background and expectations. This pre-existing bond frequently leads to a deeper cultural exchange built on years of friendship or professional respect.
Visa Requirements: Why You Need an Authorized Sponsor
Even with a personal connection, you cannot legally host an international student for high school on a standard B-1/B-2 tourist visa. To attend a U.S. public school, the student must have a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa.
As a U.S. Department of State designated sponsor, NWSE bridges the gap between your personal connection and the federal regulations required to attend a U.S. public high school. We issue the DS-2019 form required for the J-1 visa and ensure all U.S. government regulations are met. We handle the bureaucracy so you can focus on the relationship.
Who Qualifies for a Direct Exchange?
A Direct Exchange is designed for families with existing global ties. Common scenarios include:
The "Full Circle" Legacy Exchange
You were an exchange student years ago, and now you wish to host the child of your original host family. Hosting the child of your former host family is a powerful way to continue a decades-long relationship, and one of our most rewarding paths.
International Professional Colleagues
A business partner or colleague overseas has a child who wants to experience U.S. high school. NWSE provides the formal structure to turn that professional relationship into a family bond.
Long-Distance Family Friends
Met a family while traveling? If their high-school-aged child wants to study in the U.S., you can host them. As long as you are not a relative, NWSE can sponsor the exchange.
Note on relatives: U.S. Department of State regulations strictly prohibit hosting relatives, such as nieces, nephews, cousins or grandchildren.
Hosting Requirements
What U.S. Department of State regulations and NWSE ask of every host family.
A Welcoming Home
The student needs their own bed and a quiet place to study. Sharing a room is permitted only with a same-sex sibling of similar age.
Meals & Transportation
Provide three meals a day and arrange transportation to school and school activities, without financial strain. Students pay for their own personal expenses and school fees.
Family Life & Support
Treat the student like a member of your family, including them in daily activities and outings.
Volunteer Hosting
Per U.S. State Department regulations, J-1 host families cannot be paid to host. This preserves the cultural integrity of the exchange.
Interview & References
Complete an in-person interview in your home with a sponsor representative, with all household members taking part, and provide two personal references who are not relatives.
Background Checks
As a J-1 visa sponsor, NWSE must run a criminal background check on every household member aged 18 or older.
"It felt like hosting a nephew. The pre-existing trust made everything so much easier."
The NWSE Support System: You're Never Alone
Hosting is a major commitment. To ensure success, NWSE provides a multi-layered support system:
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24/7 Hotline: direct access to NWSE headquarters for any emergency, medical issue or urgent question.
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Local Coordinators: a trained NWSE representative in your area who performs the initial home visit and monthly check-ins, helps with school acceptance and supports you throughout the exchange.
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School Liaison: we work directly with your local high school's administration to secure acceptance for the student as a J-1 exchange visitor.
Financial Expectations
Per U.S. government regulations, host families on the J-1 program are volunteers. While you provide room and board (three meals a day), the student's natural parents are responsible for:
- Comprehensive medical insurance
- Personal pocket money
- Round-trip airfare
- School activity fees
Step-by-Step: Your Journey to Hosting
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1
Free Registration
Register online for free and without obligation. We will confirm that you meet the basic host family criteria.
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2
Full Application & Background Checks
Submit the NWSE host family application and complete the required criminal background checks.
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3
Home Visit & School Acceptance
Your Local Coordinator visits your home and NWSE confirms the placement with your local high school.
Host Family FAQs
Can I host an exchange student I already know?
What if my student and my family don't "click"?
Can the student travel with us outside of our state?
Does the student have to have their own bathroom?
How long is the commitment?
What if we don't know a student yet?
Register to Host
Registration is free and without obligation. Tell us how you know the student and their family, and where you live.
With this information, we can already start confirming space for your student at your local high school. We will also schedule a call with you to explain the program in detail, walk you through the next steps and answer all of your questions.