Spotlight on CIEE’s Commitment to Quality and Care

Periodically, the BridgeUSA program (J-1 Visa) is critiqued by the media with a distinctly narrow focus on a handful of unhappy participants. The reality is that each year over 300,000 foreign students come to America on the BridgeUSA program, and the vast majority are thrilled with their experience, with tens of thousands coming back for a second or third experience of American culture and lifestyle. Indeed, the vast majority of the 4,000 US businesses who receive and embrace BridgeUSA participants provide true American hospitality and a rich summer of intercultural experiences for the students. International students return home with positive memories and a more favorable impression of Americans and American values. We know this to be true because we’ve helped over one million BridgeUSA students live, learn, and work in the U.S. since 1961.

Since the inception of the BridgeUSA J-1 visa programs under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (the Fulbright-Hayes Act), CIEE has led the field of international exchange as the largest and longest-serving BridgeUSA sponsor in America. For more than 61 years, we have welcomed over one million participants from 140+ countries, and each year we continue to support more than 30,000 participants- be it high school students, summer work and travel participants, camp counselors, interns, and trainees who come to the United States to experience American culture firsthand helping make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. 

That legacy is built on trust, quality, and a deep commitment to participant success. At CIEE, the safety, success, and satisfaction of our participants are our highest priorities. Every host employer, host family, or host school, goes through a rigorous vetting and monitoring process to ensure a safe, meaningful, and rich cultural experience.

A Careful Vetting Process

• Host Employers: For our summer work and travel, intern and trainee, and camp counselor programs, we review business licenses, workers’ compensation certificates, and other critical documentation. We also evaluate training plans and work environments to confirm that every opportunity is professional, safe, and aligned with BridgeUSA goals.
• High School Host Families: For our high school programs, every family undergoes extensive screening. This includes background checks on all adults in the household, in-home interviews, reference checks, and household reviews. Families must demonstrate that they can provide not only a safe home but also a nurturing environment that fosters cultural learning and personal growth.
• International Representatives: Our international representatives are thoroughly vetted to ensure they operate with integrity, follow strict compliance standards, and recruit, vet, and onboard the most prepared participants, upholding CIEE’s commitment to student safety and cultural exchange. Only hosts and representatives who meet CIEE’s high standards are approved to participate in the program.
• Standards of Exchange: Whether an employer, school, host family, or international representatives, CIEE only approves partners who meet our high standards and embrace the mission of cultural exchange.

Ongoing Quality Assurance

• Continuous Feedback: Monthly participant surveys and Net Promoter Score (NPS) surveys give us real-time insight into the participant experience.
• Accountability: Hosts are expected to maintain high satisfaction ratings and comply fully with U.S. Department of State regulations. Those who fall short must take corrective action—or lose eligibility to host.
• Verification: Site visits, family interviews, and regular communication ensure compliance and confirm safe, supportive environments.

24/7 Participant Support

CIEE offers the most comprehensive support in the field, with full-time staff fluent in 12 languages and available around the clock. Each year, our team responds to tens of thousands of calls and emails, covering everything from housing and transportation to health and safety. Participants also receive pre-departure guidance, visa and travel assistance, and an in-depth orientation on living and learning in America.

Our Commitment

By combining rigorous vetting, ongoing monitoring, and gold-standard participant support, CIEE ensures every placement—whether with an employer, a high school, or a host family—is safe, enriching, and transformative. This is how we uphold our promise to participants, their families, and partners worldwide—and why CIEE continues to set the gold standard in international exchange.