Pakistani high school students now have a chance to apply for the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program for the Spring 2027 semester in the United States.
The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan has opened applications for the program, which gives selected students an opportunity to spend a semester in the U.S. without paying the usual program costs.
The exchange is scheduled to begin in January 2027. Selected students will live with American host families, attend local high schools and take part in activities related to culture, leadership, governance, business and innovation.
Who Can Apply for the YES Program?
The program is aimed at Pakistani students who meet specific age, education and academic requirements.
Applicants must:
- Be 15 to 17 years old on January 1, 2027.
- Be born between January 1, 2010, and January 1, 2012.
- Be studying in 8th, 9th or 10th grade, or O Levels in Pakistan at the time of application.
- Have scored at least 60% during each of the previous three academic years.
- Have at least 60% in major subjects, including English, Mathematics and Science.
- Have no failing grades during the last three academic years.
- Have enough English skills to communicate.
- Be a Pakistani citizen living in Pakistan.
Students studying in O Levels in 9th or 10th grade can apply. However, O Level students in 11th grade are not eligible.
Students With a Gap or Repeated Year Cannot Apply
There are some additional restrictions for applicants.
Students who have taken a gap year or repeated an academic year are not eligible for the program.
Those who have already completed or graduated from secondary school before the exchange begins also cannot participate.
Applicants must also meet the requirements for a J-1 exchange visa and must not have previously travelled to the United States.
Other Eligibility Restrictions
The YES Program also has rules about family and previous participation.
Dual nationals are not eligible to apply. In addition, siblings or children of former YES Program participants cannot take part.
Children and siblings of staff members working with the Society for International Education (SIE) and iEARN Pakistan project staff are also excluded under the program rules.
How Pakistani Students Can Apply
Students can start their application through the YES Program Pakistan (https://yesprograms.org/countries/pakistan) website.
Applicants should first check whether they meet the eligibility requirements and then select the “Apply Now” option.
The application is completed online first. After completing it, students must print the form, sign it by hand and submit it along with the required documents.
Applications must be sent through post or courier.
Documents Required With the Application
Applicants need to provide school-attested copies of their final mark sheets for these academic years:
- 2023–24
- 2024–25
- 2025–26
They must also provide a photocopy of one valid identity or birth document, such as:
- NADRA B-Form
- Smart Card
- Family Registration Certificate (FRC)
- Birth Certificate
Application Mailing Address
Students should send their completed application and supporting documents to:
YES Program: Spring Semester 2027 Application
Society for International Education
88-H, P.E.C.H.S. Block-6, Karachi
Last Date to Apply
The deadline for the Spring 2027 YES Program is September 15, 2026.
Students should make sure that their applications are complete, properly signed and submitted in the required way. Incomplete or incorrectly submitted applications may not be considered.
The selection process is merit-based, which means applicants will go through a competitive selection process.
What Students Can Experience in the United States
Students selected for the program will spend the Spring 2027 semester in the United States.
They will stay with American host families and attend U.S. high schools. The program also gives students opportunities to learn about American culture while sharing their own Pakistani culture with others.
Participants will also take part in activities connected with leadership, culture, governance, business and innovation.
About the YES Program
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program was established by the U.S. Congress in October 2002.
Its goal is to create stronger connections between young people in the United States and students from participating countries through educational and cultural exchange.
For eligible Pakistani students, the Spring 2027 program can provide a valuable opportunity to experience school life in the United States while developing new skills and learning about another culture.