Pakistani school students have another opportunity to experience life in the United States through the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program. The U.S. Department of State has announced applications for the Spring 2027 semester, which is scheduled to begin in January next year.
The program gives selected students the chance to spend a semester in the United States, where they will attend an American high school and live with a host family. Along with experiencing American culture, participants will take part in community activities and leadership opportunities while sharing their own culture with people in the US.
Who Can Apply?
The program is open to Pakistani students who meet specific age and academic requirements. Applicants must be between 15 and 17 years old on January 1, 2027, and must have been born between January 1, 2010, and January 1, 2012.
Students currently studying in grades 8, 9 or 10, as well as eligible O Level students, can apply. O Level students must be in either 9th or 10th grade.
Candidates must maintain at least 60% in each of the last three academic years and in major subjects, including English, Mathematics and Sciences. They must also have no failing grades during this period.
Students who have repeated a year or taken a gap year cannot apply. Applicants must also be Pakistani citizens living in Pakistan and able to communicate in English.
Other Eligibility Conditions
Candidates who have previously travelled to the United States are not eligible. Dual nationals are also excluded from the program. Children and siblings of YES alumni and certain Society for International Education and iEARN Pakistan staff members cannot participate.
Students who will have completed secondary school before the program begins are also not eligible.
How to Apply for the YES Program
Students interested in applying should first visit www.yesprogram.pk and check the eligibility requirements. Eligible candidates can then click the “Apply Now” option to access the Spring 2027 application form.
The form is available as a fillable PDF and should be completed electronically on a computer. After completing it, applicants must print the form in black and white, carefully check all information and sign it by hand using a black ballpoint pen.
The application must be submitted with school-attested copies of the final mark sheets for the 2025–26, 2024–25 and 2023–24 academic years. Applicants must also attach a clear photocopy of any one of their NADRA B-Form, Smart Card, FRC or Birth Certificate.
The completed application and documents must be sent through post or courier to:
Society for International Education
88-H, P.E.C.H.S. Block-6, Karachi
Tel: 0333-2929960
Applications sent by hand or through other methods will not be accepted.
The completed application must be sent to the Society for International Education in Karachi. Applications must reach the organization by September 15, 2026.
The selection process is merit-based, giving eligible students the opportunity to compete for a valuable international educational and cultural exchange experience.
