The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Global Program gives secondary school students one academic year in the United States, living with a volunteer host family and attending a local high school.
It is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and run by American Councils with AFS-USA, Amideast and iEARN. FLEX Global extends the earlier FLEX and YES programs; recruitment for 2027-28 covers 31 countries.
Benefits & funding
- Round-trip travel, a host-family placement, U.S. high school enrolment, and medical insurance excluding pre-existing conditions and dental care.
- A monthly stipend; Poland lists US$200 a month plus a US$300 school-supplies allowance.
- Pre-departure orientation; no fees anywhere in selection or the program.
- Not covered (2026-27 Lithuania page): passport, spending beyond the stipend, extra baggage, phone and internet.
- Participants must return home at the end under J-1 visa rules and cannot stay on for a U.S. university.
Eligibility
- Citizenship of a 2027-28 recruiting country: Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
- Enrolled in and attending secondary school in that country when applying; grades are set locally (Romania 9th–11th grade, Poland years 1–3 of liceum or technikum).
- Born within the country’s window: for 2027-28, 15 July 2009 to 15 July 2012 in Romania and 15 July 2009 to 15 July 2011 in Poland. Windows differ, so no single age limit is recorded.
- Good academic standing and prior English study; English is tested during selection.
- Able to get a U.S. J-1 visa; under 90 days in the U.S. in the past five years; no family member who has emigrated, applied or plans to emigrate to the U.S. (Romania).
- Dual U.S. citizens cannot take part (Poland). One application per cycle.
- Students with disabilities are welcome.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Argentina · Armenia · Bahrain · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Brazil · Egypt · Georgia · Greece · India · Indonesia · Jordan · Kazakhstan
+ 19 more
Kenya · Kosovo · Kyrgyzstan · Moldova · Mongolia · Montenegro · Morocco · North Macedonia · Pakistan · Poland · Romania · Serbia · Tajikistan · Thailand · Tunisia · Türkiye · Turkmenistan · Ukraine · Uzbekistan
Residence required
Argentina · Armenia · Bahrain · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Brazil · Egypt · Georgia · Greece · India · Indonesia · Jordan · Kazakhstan
+ 19 more
Kenya · Kosovo · Kyrgyzstan · Moldova · Mongolia · Montenegro · Morocco · North Macedonia · Pakistan · Poland · Romania · Serbia · Tajikistan · Thailand · Tunisia · Türkiye · Turkmenistan · Ukraine · Uzbekistan
Education required
High School
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Application process
- 1Find your country office: 18 countries apply online now; the other 13 start through their office.
- 2Round 1: online application with a timed English section and three short essays, by the country deadline (Ukraine 22 October 2026; Romania within 5 days of starting).
- 3Round 2: an online English test.
- 4Round 3: interviews, an English test, more essays and the full application with family forms.
- 5Committees in the United States decide; finalists pass a medical check and attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation.
Program timeline
Round 1 deadline in Ukraine
22 October 2026
Semifinal interviews and full application
November 2026 to January 2027
Results announced
April to May 2027
Travel to the United States
August 2027
Return home
May to June 2028