What It Means to Be a CIEE BridgeUSA Host Family
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Last updated May 11, 2026. Originally published May 1, 2018.
Hosting an international exchange student isn’t just about providing a bed and meals. It’s about opening your home to a new culture, new perspective, and a relationship that often lasts long after the program ends – for both you and your family.
If you’ve wondered “What is a host family?”, you’re not alone. And if you’ve come across the term “CIEE BridgeUSA host family,” the concept is simpler than it may sound once you understand the roles of CIEE and BridgeUSA.
Learn more about how CIEE and BridgeUSA fit together – and what hosting through them really looks like.
What Is CIEE?
CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange is a nonprofit J-1 visa sponsor organization that’s helped international students connect with American families for the ultimate cultural exchange experience.
Founded in 1947, CIEE designs, administers, and supports exchange programs that bring international participants to the United States and send Americans abroad. Supported by the U.S. Department of State, these programs are focused on education, professional development, and public diplomacy.
Today, CIEE is the largest sponsor of State Department BridgeUSA (aka exchange visitor) programs, helping more than 30,000 people each year experience life in the United States.
What Is BridgeUSA?
BridgeUSA is the U.S. Department of State’s exchange visitor program. International citizens can travel to America on a temporary J-1 visa to study, work, live, and travel the country.
BridgeUSA programs are designed to promote mutual understanding between Americans and people from other countries – as well as public diplomacy, national security, and economic prosperity.
The Department of State designates sponsors – like CIEE – to implement BridgeUSA programs. Then these sponsors work with a network of international agents to promote the program around the world. These agents recruit participants for specific BridgeUSA categories such as the High School program, but also work exchanges like Summer Work Travel, Camp Counselor, Intern, Trainee, and more.
Host families play a critical role in BridgeUSA by providing participants with an authentic, day-to-day American experience.
What Is a Host Family?
At its core, what is a host family? A host family exchange student experience begins when a person or household opens their home to an international high school exchange student – providing a place to live, meals, and everyday support while the student attends school in the U.S.
But hosting goes beyond logistics.
A cultural exchange host family offers encouragement and connection as students adjust to a new country and culture. These families are everyday people who choose to open their homes because they value cultural exchange and meaningful relationships.
For many, becoming a CIEE host family is a simple way to experience the world while making a lasting impact.
What Is a CIEE BridgeUSA Host Family?
A CIEE BridgeUSA host family combines it all: a U.S. household that welcomes an international high school exchange participant into their home through the BridgeUSA program, sponsored and supported by CIEE.
Families choose CIEE year after year because of its decades of experience, careful student matching, and robust support system designed to help host families feel confident every step of the way.
What Hosting Isn't
Being a BridgeUSA host family can be the right move for almost anyone. That being said, there are a few things that hosting isn’t:
- Legal guardianship. While you’re responsible for the student in your home, they still have the same parents/guardians they had before arriving in America.
- A vacation or entertainment. Your participant is required to go to school and do homework, and they may opt for additional activities.
- Free labor. While some household chores are expected, the participant isn’t there to provide free childcare or major work around the home.
- A paid job. Being a host family is a volunteer opportunity that allows you to open your home to cultural exchange.
If you're aligned with these points, hosting through CIEE BridgeUSA could be a great fit.
What Support You Get as a CIEE BridgeUSA Host
There’s one thing that CIEE host families don’t lack for: support. No matter where you turn, there’s someone ready to help you out.
- Local coordinators: Your local coordinator (LC) is your first point of contact. LCs are trained on BridgeUSA regulations and often have hosting experience themselves, making them a trusted resource when you have questions.
- Other host families: Your local coordinator can connect you with other host families in your area, helping you build a local support network and share experiences.
- Participant services: In the event of an emergency, CIEE offers 24/7 support staffed by trained team members – not a third‑party service. Assistance is also available in multiple languages to support both you and your participant.
And should you need them, CIEE has plenty of resources for host families.
Why Host Families Stick with CIEE
Many host families choose to return to CIEE year after year. Here are a few host family testimonials:
Who Can Host?
All types of families can host a high school exchange student through the BridgeUSA program. There’s no “perfect” family type – just a willingness to open your home and share your life.
This includes:
- Married parents with children
- Married adults without children
- Single/divorced parents with children
- Single/divorced adults
- Adults of any race or national origin
- People identifying as any gender or sexual orientation
- Adults of any religion
- People with varying political beliefs
- Families of any economic status
One of the only requirements to host is that you must be at least 25 years old.
Apply to Become a CIEE Host Family Today
Interested in how to become a host family? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that allows you to open your perspective, home, and heart. Connect with CIEE today.
Take the first step: Get more information on becoming a CIEE host family.