PAX - Program of Academic Exchange is a program of PAX Laurasian Exchange and is designated by the U.S. Department of State as a J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program sponsor.

The PAX Host Family Handbook provides information about the role and responsibilities of a PAX host family. It also describes some practical information which will be helpful. Reading this handbook will help families know what to expect and help ensure a successful experience.

All PAX students are covered by full medical insurance. The majority of PAX students are under the PAX CareMed insurance policy. Only students whose PAX ID begins with the following codes are not on the PAX CareMed insurance policy: IEX, KUL, STE, WEB, WEF, and WEI.

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The On-Program Travel Policy Guide provides an overview of the travel policy to ensure: (1) PAX is properly informed of all trips and (2) the necessary approval has been provided for qualifying travel. Students and host families are also able to submit travel requests directly through this online portal.

PAX Volunteers is the online student portal for reviewing PAX volunteering policies, looking for inspiration, logging hours, and writing reflections. It's also where PAX Community Coordinators log on to review and approve student hours

Please use the Incidental, Emergency, and School Reimbursement Request Form to submit requests for reimbursement for incidentals, school fees, and health-related items (non-reimbursable by insurance) such as immunizations and sports physicals.

Enhancement activities help students learn about the FLEX and YES program goals of Diversity and American Culture, Entrepreneurship and Free Market Economy, Government and Democracy, and Leadership. Completed within one week of an enhancement activity, the Enhancement Activity Reflection Form is an important tool to help in this regard.

PAX strongly recommends that each FLEX and YES student participates in leadership activities and recognizes the efforts of students who complete at least five activities throughout the year. This includes mentoring activities. Whether a leadership or mentoring activity, students should fill out the Distinguished Leadership Award Report to track their activities.

Second Visit Representative who needs to complete the annual renewal? Use the Second Visit Representative Annual Renewal Form.

The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) sets standards for and evaluates U.S.-based youth exchange programs. In its most recent Advisory List, CSIET granted full listing to PAX, which means that PAX is fully compliant and has already achieved two consecutive years of provisional listing.

In 1992, the United States reached out to the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union in the form of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program. The program provides scholarships for high school students from Europe and Eurasia to spend one academic year in the United States. In recent years, the U.S. Department of State program has expanded to include countries in the Balkans and both central and eastern Europe, in addition to Mongolia. Students live with host families, attend high school, engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures. FLEX is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and is administered by PAX.

The U.S. Department of State’s (USDOS) Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program was established by Congress in October 2002 in response to the events of September 11, 2001. YES provides scholarships for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend up to one academic year in the United States. Students live with host families, attend high school, engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures. The YES program is sponsored by the USDOS' Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs with funding provided by the U.S. Congress and is administered by PAX.

Laurasian Institution is a not-for-profit educational organization, specializing in meaningful, high-quality, exchange and education programs driven by their curricular design. Annually, Laurasian supports approximately 2,000 participants of varying ages on short-term and group programs. The institution was founded in 1990 and has been honored to operate programs sponsored by both the U.S. Department of State and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2015, PAX combined with Laurasian to form PAX Laurasian Exchange.

Founded in 1981, Mobility International USA (MIUSA) is a disability-led non-profit organization headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, working to advance the rights of people with disabilities globally. Each year, PAX has the pleasure of working with MIUSA, as they provide orientation and support to a few of our FLEX and YES exchange students with disabilities.

Visit the PAX Online Store to find your favorite PAX-branded items.

PAX Laurasian Exchange is an international not-for-profit educational organization and the parent organization of PAX - Program of Academic Exchange and Laurasian Institution.

The U.S. Department of State's (USDOS) Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs'(ECA) mission is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange that assist in the development of peaceful relations. PAX is designated as an official Exchange Visitor Program by the USDOS. This designation empowers PAX to enable foreign high school students to secure J-1 exchange visitor visas to the U.S.