Nominations
FAQ’s
An outbound exchange is a delegation of young political leaders from the United States traveling overseas. These exchanges last anywhere from 7-14 days.
Out of pocket costs are minimal and include transportation to and from Washington, DC and gifts to present to the officials the delegation meets with throughout the exchange. ACYPL and our partners will cover international airfare, ground transportation, food, and accommodations for the duration of the exchange.
ACYPL programs are generously supported by the United States Department of State, our international partner organizations, and a wide range of corporations, foundations, and individuals.
Yes, all nominees must be between 25–41 years old to be eligible to travel on an ACYPL exchange. Nominees can travel until their 41st birthday.
ACYPL accepts nominations from ACYPL Alumni, members of Congress, Governors, State Party Chairs, Corporate Partners, and through nominating partnerships. Nominations from other sources are not considered.
ACYPL is fortunate to have partners around the world who identify candidates to participate in delegations visiting the United States. Please be in touch with your local American embassy about exchange opportunities.
International nominations are not processed by ACYPL and submissions here will not be considered.
ACYPL accepts nominations online on a rolling basis throughout the year and paperwork is due roughly 3-4 weeks after the nomination is submitted.
Once a nomination is submitted online, the nominee receives an email notifying them of their nomination. This email includes a link to complete the required paperwork as well as the paperwork deadline.
Once the paperwork is submitted in its entirety, the materials are reviewed by members of the ACYPL Board of Trustees and nominees are then considered eligible to travel on an exchange over the next two years (or until the nominee turn 41 years old).
- A range of times over the 2-year eligibility period that nominees are available to travel
- Geographic regions a nominee is interested in visiting
- Specific countries a nominee is interested in visiting
- Specific countries nominees have already visited
- A one-page personal statement outlining how an ACYPL experience might benefit the nominee professionally and/or personally
- Bio
- Scan of passport photo page
- Resume/CV
- We require both of these materials so that, should a nominee be selected to travel on an exchange, we know that their passport is valid and can efficiently begin processing visas and booking flights for the exchange.
- Passport scan: This is the first page of a passport that includes a photo, the travelers’ full name, as well as the date the passport was issued and expires.
- Passport photos: These are 2x2” headshots” which are necessary to submit with a visa application. They must be shot in front of a neutral background and can be taken at a US Post Office, FedEx, UPS, Walgreens, CVS, or similar store.
Active nominees have successfully submitted all of the required paperwork and are eligible to travel on an ACYPL exchange for up to two years, or until they turn 41 years old.
Each nomination lasts for two years and there is no limit to the number of times that someone can be nominated.
No. The delegate selection process is competitive and unfortunately we have more qualified nominees than spots on our exchanges.
Outbound exchanges are typically between 7-14 days.
Yes! Click here to find itineraries from past exchanges and to learn about our international partners.
Yes. We understand that nominees have busy personal and professional schedules that make joining an exchange challenging, so we will try to identify another travel opportunity if our first invitation is declined. However, we cannot guarantee that another opportunity will present itself.
No. Together with our Board of Trustees, we identify an exchange that we believe will be a good fit for you based on the geographic regions and countries of interest that you provide in the nominee paperwork.
Our goal is to send delegates to a new country so that the delegation can experience it together for the first time.
Nominees are generally contacted 4-12 weeks prior to the exchange departure date, however occasionally invitations are extended outside of, or within, that timeframe.
ACYPL carefully selects 7-8 delegates for each exchange and does not permit additional travelers to accompany the delegation. However, delegates are welcome to meet other travelers upon the conclusion of the formal ACYPL program.
Exchanges
ACYPL and our program partners around the world design unique international exchanges for young elected, political, and policy leaders with often divergent points of view to explore common concerns and points of difference.
An ACYPL nominee is:
- A state or local elected official, political operatives, policy professionals, corporate or labor advocacy professionals and grassroots organizers who are poised to become leaders in shaping politics and policies.
- A successful delegate is someone with an interest in politics or policy making who is curious about the international community and welcomes different perspectives with an open mind.
ACYPL Exchanges:
- We are proud that our exchanges provide one of the few forums in public life for Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and their multi-partisan peers from around the world to have difficult conversations about complex global issues. Our hope is that ACYPL exchanges foster friendships among our delegates and their global counterparts.
Want to see who has traveled on ACYPL exchanges over the last 50 years? Check out our list of notable alumni!
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