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Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Program OverviewThe International Visitor Leadership Program annually brings to the United States approximately 5,000 foreign nationals from all over the world to meet and confer with their professional counterparts and to experience America firsthand. The visitors, who are selected by American Foreign Service Officers overseas, are current or potential leaders in government, politics, the media, education, labor relations, the arts, business and other fields. Among the thousands of distinguished individuals who have participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program since its inception more than five decades ago are more than 200 current and former Chiefs of State, 1,500 cabinet-level ministers, and many, many other distinguished leaders from the public and private sectors. The invitation to visit the U.S. under the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program is extended by U.S. embassies. For that reason, individuals cannot apply to participate in the program. As mentioned, candidates for the program are nominated by American Foreign Service Officers stationed at U.S. Embassies and other Department of State offices overseas. Once the nominations are approved, the program and other logistical arrangements are handled by Department of State staff overseas and in Washington D.C. Participants in the International Leadership Program may be either fully or partially funded by the Office of International Visitors. Two types of visitors make up the International Visitor Leadership Program — Grant Visitors and Voluntary Visitors. Grant Visitors or "Grantees" travel to the U.S. for periods up to 21 days. Voluntary Visitors generally stay for shorter periods of time, usually 2-14 days. These International Visitors travel to the U.S. either as individuals or in group projects. The group or thematic projects focus on a particular issue such as the U.S. economy or electoral system. Group projects can bring together colleagues with similar professional interests from particular countries, geographic regions or worldwide. Arrangements for all International Visitors are made by program officers assigned to the Office of International Visitors. The department staff work in concert with a broad range of private, not-for-profit organizations operating under cooperative agreements with the Department of State. In addition to program agencies, the International Visitor Leadership Program also relies on the commitment and skills of volunteer- based community organizations across the U.S. whose members offer professional program assistance and home hospitality. These volunteer organizations are known as Councils for International Visitors (CIVs). There are currently 95 CIVs in 42 states.
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