International Visitor Program

The International Visitor Program of the World Affairs Council promotes citizen diplomacy by coordinating educational and professional programs for international delegates visiting the Puget Sound area.

View the IVP Online Scrapbook

For over forty years, the International Visitor Program in Seattle has hosted international professionals from around the globe.  We offer a variety of services to our guests to ensure a pleasant and productive stay in Seattle. Professional meetings with visitors' counterparts, professional development trainings and workshops, company tours, school visits, speaking opportunities, volunteer opportunities, cultural excursions, and dinner hospitality with World Affairs Council members are among the services offered.

The International Visitor Program currently hosts over 1200 international professionals from over 120 countries in Seattle each year.  The majority of the visitors hosted by the International Visitor Program travel to the United States under the auspices of the U.S. State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, International Visitor Leadership Program after being recognized and nominated as rising stars by American embassies in their countries.

The International Visitor Program also arranges international youth programs through its Global Youth Leadership Program. In 2007-2008, students and teachers will visit from countries such as Serbia, Morocco, Korea and Iraq. Programs include homestays, mentoring, and intensive project work on topics such as grassroots democracy, ethnic tolerance, youth leadership, and international understanding through art, political leadership, and volunteerism.

The World Affairs Council IV Program is part of a national network of local councils under the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV).  Today, our IV Program is at the top in this network of 93 councils in 43 states across the U.S.  Our services are also used by organizations such as the East-West Center, IREX, the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship program, Japan Productivity Center, AMIDEAST, Delphi International/World Learning, Meridian International Center, and others.

Sample Program: "US - European Security Issues"

Sample Program: "Book Publishing in the United States"

State Department’s IVLP site

National Council for International Visitors

Secretary of State Colin Powell's Comments on IVLP