<P> A long - term exchange is one which lasts six to ten months or up to one full year . Participants attend high school in their host countries, through a student visa . Typically, guest students coming to the United States are issued a J - 1 cultural exchange visa or an F - 1 foreign student visa . Students are expected to integrate themselves into the host family, immersing themselves in the local community and surroundings . Upon their return to their home country they are expected to incorporate this knowledge into their daily lives, as well as give a presentation on their experience to their sponsors . Many exchange programs expect students to be able converse in the language of the host country, at least on a basic level . Some programs require students to pass a standardized test for English language comprehension prior to being accepted into a program taking them to the United States . Other programs do not examine language ability . Most exchange students become fluent in the language of the host country within a few months . Some exchange programs, such as the Congress - Bundestag Youth Exchange, are government - funded programs . </P> <P> The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel is a not - for - profit organization committed to quality international educational travel and exchange for youth at the high school level . </P> <P> Long - term (10 to 12 month) exchange applications and interviews generally take place 10 months in advance of departure, but sometimes as little as four months . Students generally must be between the ages of 15 and 18.5 . Some programs allow students older than 18 years of age in a specialized work - study program . </P> <P> Some programs require a preliminary application form with fees, and then schedule interviews and a longer application form . Other programs request a full application from the beginning and then schedule interviews . High school scholarship programs often require a set GPA of around 3.0 or higher . Programs select the candidates most likely to complete the program and serve as the best ambassadors to the foreign nation . Students in some programs, such as Rotary, are expected to go to any location where the organization places them, and students are encouraged not to have strict expectations of their host country . Students are allowed to choose a country, but may live at any spot within that country . </P>

How old do you have to be to become a foreign exchange student