Host Family USA: Find Opportunities to Host an International Student!

Opening your home to an international exchange student is one of the most wholesome, worthwhile experiences imaginable. Many families view hosting as a way to make a student’s dreams come true, without realizing just how much of a positive impact it will have on their own life! In this guide, we’ll explain what it takes to become a host family in the USA for an international high school student. We’ll cover: 

1. The benefits of hosting an exchange student
2. Why AYUSA is a top choice for host families 
3. How to become an AYUSA host family in the USA
4. What to expect from hosting an exchange student

At AYUSA, we’ve been connecting the world’s next generation of global leaders with American host families for more than 40 years. We’ve empowered students to realize their dreams, helped host families build incredible cross-culture friendships, and contributed to a world that’s more tolerant, inclusive, and welcoming to all cultures. 

Keep reading to learn more about becoming an AYUSA host family, or if you’re ready to take the plunge, start your hosting application here!

Benefits of Hosting an Exchange Student

By opening your home to a high school exchange student, you get to: 

1. See the world from a new angle
2. Strengthen your family’s bonds
3. Create a lifelong connection 
4. Help a student realize their dreams

Here are some of the most impactful benefits of becoming an AYUSA host family.

See the World From a New Angle

Hosting foreign exchange students offers a window into another culture, allowing your family to see the world in a way that no travel guide or documentary can replicate. As you share your daily life, you’ll:

• Gain insights into the student’s traditions and values
• Learn more about their family life at home
• Develop a deeper understanding of their home country
• Pick up some of their native language

At the same time, you may begin to see your own culture through their eyes. Routine activities—like celebrating holidays, enjoying meals, or attending community events—take on a new dimension as you explain and experience them together. This exchange can break down stereotypes, spark curiosity, reduce discrimination, and inspire a newfound appreciation for cultural differences.

Strengthen Your Family’s Bonds

Welcoming an exchange student into your home encourages your family to work together, communicate openly, and support one another in creating a positive environment. Whether it’s decorating their room, planning family outings, or simply helping them adjust to life in the U.S., international student exchange builds teamwork and unity among family members. 

For families with children, the experience can also provide invaluable lessons in empathy, adaptability, and responsibility. Sharing your home with someone from a different background can deepen your family’s appreciation for one another while building a sense of pride in being part of something bigger than yourselves. 

Create a Lifelong Connection

Many host families find that their relationship with their exchange student doesn’t end when the program does—it’s the start of a long bond. Over time, you may come to think of your exchange student as an extended member of your family, celebrating milestones, exchanging updates, and even visiting each other across borders. 

Help a Student Realize Their Dreams

For many exchange students, the chance to study abroad in the USA is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve academic, personal, and cultural goals. As a host family, you play an essential role in their journey, offering guidance, encouragement, and stability as they adapt to life in a new country. 

By supporting their education and helping them navigate challenges, you empower your exchange student to grow into a confident, independent young adult. The impact you make as a host family can ripple through their lives, shaping their future and inspiring them to pursue their dreams. Knowing that you’ve contributed to their success is one of the most fulfilling aspects of hosting.

Ready to have a positive impact on an eager student’s life? Start your AYUSA hosting application here!

Why Become a Host Family in the USA With AYUSA?

AYUSA is one of the most reputable and trusted exchange student programs in the country, offering unmatched support and facilitating life-changing cultural connections for both host families and students. Here’s what makes AYUSA an exceptional choice for families looking to host an international high school exchange student.

AYUSA’s Students are the Best!

AYUSA carefully selects its exchange students through a rigorous application process, ensuring that only the most motivated and well-prepared individuals are chosen to participate. These students are academically driven, eager to immerse themselves in American culture, and keen to become active members of their host families and communities. 

Each student comes with a unique background, set of interests, and personal goals, which means your family has the opportunity to host someone whose personality aligns with your lifestyle. Whether they’re passionate about sports, music, or academics, all of our students bring enthusiasm, curiosity, and a willingness to engage in every aspect of the study abroad experience.

Ongoing Support Throughout the Program

Becoming a host family for an international student can feel overwhelming at first, but with AYUSA, you’re never alone. From the moment you decide to become a host family, you’ll have access to comprehensive support and resources every step of the way. After you complete your hosting application, you’ll be introduced to a local Community Representative (CR) who can answer all your questions about hosting and the AYUSA program. 

We’ll help you find a student who shares your family’s values, interests, and lifestyle, and provide all the pre-arrival guidance and support you need. Once your student arrives, your CR will constantly be in touch throughout the program, with regular check-ins with both you and the school. They’ll compile progress reports to send to the student’s family, and are always available to answer your questions or address any concerns that come up during the program. 

As well as a designated CR, we also have a 24/7 contact for emergencies, and insurance specialists should you ever need to reach them. We know it takes a village, and we do everything we can to make sure you and your student have an incredible time together during their academic year in America. 

Opportunities to Host Again

Many AYUSA host families find the experience so rewarding that they choose to host again in future years! Whether you want to host a student from the same country or experience a new culture, we make it easy for our host families to return to hosting once they’re ready. We also have flexible programs, with semester and year-long options available, depending on your family’s preference. 

Hear From AYUSA Host Families

There are many different reasons why an AYUSA family chooses to host an international student, but at the end of the day, it’s ultimately about the rewarding experience of exchanging cultures with an excited young student. Here’s what AYUSA host families have to say about their experiences. 

“This is our third year hosting a double placement with Ayusa. We have hosted six students with them from Egypt, Turkey, Japan, France, Spain and Italy. We already have our two students picked for next year from Germany and the Netherlands. We have been very happy with AYUSA, the support they give and the quality and selection of students. Our family has enjoyed hosting! All of our students become like family. So much so that our daughter went to Egypt last summer and stayed with our exchange student's family for a month. We have had a wonderful experience with Ayusa!” -Stouffer family 

“We all cried as we said our last goodbyes and Flavia returns home to Barcelona. These last 10 months have flown by. Flavia quickly became a member of our family and like one of our own children. It hurt to let her go, but we are so thankful for this journey with her and the friends we are making around the world.” -Lina, AYUSA host

“Hosting has given us an opportunity to experience the world not only through our own students but through the community of other exchange students locally each year. It also gives the students a group of like minded people their age who are all learning and growing together. The support locally and among other families is amazing and comforting.” -Kelly, AYUSA host

Ready to discover your own hosting story? Start your AYUSA application today!

How to Become a Host Family in the USA With AYUSA

Despite what many people believe, there’s no typical “host family.” AYUSA host families come in all shapes and sizes, from single parents to empty nesters and everything in between! The first step is making sure you’re eligible for hosting international students, which we’ll discuss in a moment. After that, the process of becoming a host family in the USA involves: 

1. Completing an AYUSA hosting application 
2. Meeting with a Community Representative 
3. Matching with your exchange student 
4. Getting ready for their arrival

Let’s take a look at who can host, and how you can become an AYUSA host family for an international exchange student.  

Am I Eligible to Host?

The first step in becoming a host family is understanding the basic eligibility requirements. What matters most is your ability to provide a safe, welcoming environment and a willingness to share your life with a foreign exchange student.

To qualify, you’ll need to:

• Be at least 25 years old
• Pass a background check
• Demonstrate the ability to offer room and board, including meals
• Be able to help arrange transport for the exchange student
• Commit to treating the student as a member of your family

Hosting doesn’t require luxurious accommodations or a perfect home—just an open heart and a readiness to embrace cultural exchange.

Start Your Hosting Application

Once you’re ready to move forward, the next step is to fill out AYUSA’s hosting application. This form captures essential information about your household, lifestyle, and preferences to help match you with a student who complements your family. Our team will review your application to make sure you meet the eligibility criteria. 

Meet With a Community Representative

After we’ve reviewed your application, we’ll arrange a meeting with your local AYUSA Community Representative. Our CRs are the heart and soul of AYUSA—they screen and vet our host families, help to match host families with the right exchange student, and provide support for host families and exchange students throughout the program. 

During the meeting, the CR will: 

• Conduct a home visit to ensure your home meets program requirements
• Answer any questions you may have about hosting
• Provide additional resources and tips to help you prepare

This step is an excellent opportunity to build a relationship with your representative, who will remain your go-to contact for support during the exchange student program.

Find Your Student

One of the most exciting parts of the process is selecting your exchange student! AYUSA offers detailed student profiles, allowing you to learn about their interests, background, and goals before making a decision. 

Your family’s preferences—such as hobbies, personality traits, and dietary considerations—will help guide the matching process. Once you’ve found a student who feels like the right fit, we will finalize the placement and provide you with all the necessary details about your new family member.

Get Ready for Their Arrival!

With your student selected, it’s time to prepare for their arrival! Remember, your AYUSA CR is always available to answer any questions or concerns you have leading up to the arrival of your student for their academic year in America. You don’t need to do too much to get ready for the student’s arrival, just make sure you have somewhere for them to sleep. If you like, you can prepare a poster or welcome basket, or do something celebratory to welcome the student to your home. 

What to Expect as an AYUSA Host Family in the USA

Hosting an exchange student with AYUSA comes with opportunities to learn, grow, and build meaningful connections. While every experience is unique, there are some common aspects of day-to-day life and dynamics that host families can expect. Here’s an idea of what to anticipate as an AYUSA host family.

Day-to-Day Life with an Exchange Student

Living with an exchange student means inviting them into your family’s everyday life, routines, and traditions. Expect them to join in on activities like family dinners, weekend outings, and household chores. They will also experience daily aspects of American culture at school, by participating in extracurricular activities, and when celebrating holidays. 

While students are expected (and excited!) to adapt to their host family’s way of life, they also bring unique elements of their own culture to share with you. For instance, they might cook traditional meals from their home country or teach your family about their festivals and customs, which is a fun way for your household to broaden its cultural horizons.

Developing a Connection

Building a bond is one of the most rewarding aspects of hosting a high school exchange student, and a big part of why so many AYUSA host families come back time and time again. At first, your exchange student might feel shy or uncertain as they adjust to a new environment, but with patience and open communication, trust and familiarity will grow. 

Simple activities, like playing board games, watching movies, or exploring your community together, can help grow a connection. As the relationship deepens, many families find that their exchange student becomes like another member of the family, and the bond often lasts long after the program ends. They may even come back to visit you several years down the line, or you might find yourself on a plane to see them in their home country!

Handling Challenges and Cultural Differences

Cultural differences are a natural part of the student cultural exchange experience and can sometimes present challenges. Your exchange student may have different expectations about household routines, social interactions, or communication styles. Likewise, they might feel homesick or overwhelmed as they adapt to life in a new country. 

AYUSA provides extensive support to help families navigate these situations, including our local Community Representatives who can mediate misunderstandings and offer guidance. By approaching challenges with empathy and an open mind, you’ll help your student adjust and learn valuable lessons about cultural diversity and adaptability.

Encouraging Academic and Personal Growth

As a host family, you play a vital role in supporting your student’s development during their time in the U.S. This includes encouraging their academic success by supporting them as they navigate the school system, encouraging them to participate in extracurricular activities, and helping them stay organized with homework.

Beyond academics, you’ll also provide a safe space for them to grow personally. Whether it’s boosting their confidence in speaking English, introducing them to new hobbies, or guiding them through new experiences, your support will help them develop skills and independence that will benefit them for years to come.

Discover the Joy of Hosting with AYUSA!

Hosting an international exchange student through AYUSA offers families a unique opportunity to develop global connections, gain cultural insights, and positively impact a young person’s life. With AYUSA’s comprehensive support, carefully matched students, and commitment to creating successful exchange experiences, host families can feel confident and prepared for every step of the process. 

Join AYUSA in growing cultural exchange and building a more connected world, one student at a time. Start your hosting application today!