Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - International Visitor Leadership Program

As authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange programs.. The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) brings influential foreign leaders in government, business, tech and innovation, academia, arts and culture, , and other critical fields to the United States for short-term visits to build strategic relationships, showcase American professional leadership, and advance U.S. national security priorities. Staff at U.S. embassies worldwide nominate participants; there is no application process. Of the 700+ USG exchange alumni who have become heads of state or government, over 500 participated in the IVLP. To implement the IVLP, ECA works with a network of non-profit organizations, including approximately 70 community-based organizations across the country. Nearly 100 percent of funding for the IVLP remains in the United States, particularly benefitting local travel and hospitality industries in cities and towns across the country.