The Office of International Visitors is responsible for implementing the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Launched in 1940, IVLP seeks to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations through short-term visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders. Each year over 5,000 International Visitors come to the U.S. on the IVLP. More than 200,000 International Visitors have engaged with Americans through the IVLP, including over 335 current or former chiefs of State or heads of government.

The Office of International Visitors consists of approximately 100 staff located primarily in Washington, D.C. and a program branch in New York City. The IVLP works closely with the private sector. Seven National Program Agencies (NPAs) help administer IVLP projects and over 90 Councils for International Visitors (CIVs), as members of the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV), administer projects in local communities across the United States.