Common Questions for Host Families/Employers

All questions and concerns should be addressed to the sponsoring organization unless they involve the health or safety of a participant. The Form DS-2019 contains the name and telephone number of the participant’s sponsor. To locate a designated sponsor, please visit the list of designated sponsors.

If the issue involves health or safety, contact the State Department at any time via the hotline 1-866-283-9090 or at jvisas@state.gov.

For example, the J-1 Secondary School Student exchange program is a public diplomacy program intended to foster mutual education and trust between foreign students and American host families. As such, monetary payments in return for being a host family would run counter to the intention of the program and are prohibited by the regulations [22 CFR Section 62.25(d)(6)].  Other categories of exchange sometimes assist participants in locating or arranging housing for a fee. Or place participants in private homes as part of their exchange program.

Contact a designated sponsor to learn how to find a temporary employee under the Exchange Visitor Program. Please visit the list of designated sponsors.

The goal of the Exchange Visitor Program is to promote international exchanges and the U.S. government’s public diplomacy efforts. The State Department’s Office of Private Sector Exchange in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is responsible for designating organizations as sponsors to conduct exchange programs, assisting sponsor with the administration of their exchange program, and monitoring them to ensure compliance with the governing regulations and laws.

The addresses listed in the Designated Sponsors List are the official locations of the designated sponsor organizations. Many sponsors can place participants anywhere in the United States, regardless of their official location. Please consult with the individual sponsor for details.