Independent Homestay Program

If you’re interested in the opportunity to participate in a program that focuses exclusively on American culture and home life, while greatly improving your English language skills, this is the program for you.

Participants should feel comfortable with traveling from their home country unaccompanied and be prepared to spend time exploring their host community independently. Host families provide accommodation and all meals taken in the home, but are not expected to entertain the participants, and may often be gone during working hours. Thus, this program is suitable for mature participants who do not require the structure and supervision of an organized group homestay program.

Program Includes

• Room and board with a volunteer American host family
• Orientation provided by the CCI Area Representative
• Support & supervision of a CCI Area Representative
• Medical and accident insurance
• Airport transfers to/from nearest airport to homestay community
• Invitation letter for the tourist visa, if required

Optional Services

In addition to the above services, one or more of the following options may be added for an additional fee:

• Community Service Project
• Destination Guarantee
• English Tutoring

Not Included

• Airfare and ground transportation
• Meals and entertainment outside homestay
• Personal expenses
• Optional Activities

What are the requirements?

In order to be accepted to the CCI Independent Homestay Program, an applicant must be:

• At least 16 years old
• Able to communicate in English at a basic conversational level
• Mature enough to feel comfortable traveling alone, being alone during the day, and sight-seeing on their own
• Genuinely interested in the culture of the United States
• Willing to become a member of an American family
• Willing to sign and abide by the CCI Code of Conduct, on the reverse side of the Short-Term Application form

Available Destinations

Independent Homestay Programs are available throughout the U.S. Participants may select from one of seven regions listed. Request fulfillment is based upon availability.

1. Atlantic Coast: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia or Washington D.C.
   
2. Inter-Mountain: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, or Wyoming.
   
3. Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.
   
4. Pacific Coast: California, Oregon, or Washington.
   
5. South: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee.
   
6. Southwest: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Texas.
   
7. Island: Hawaiian Islands. (Generally available only September 1 – June 14. Maximum stay, 4 weeks)

Deadlines
Applications are due to CCI 8 weeks prior to requested arrival.