Ayusa (Academic Year in the U.S.A.) International founded as a non-profit in San Francisco. Offices are located in the "Icehouse," a renovated warehouse near the Embarcadero in San Francisco.
1982
Ayusa begins offering J-1 visa program as a U.S. designated Exchange Visitor Program sponsor.
1984
Ayusa becomes a founding member of the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET). Ayusa is approved for listing by CSIET and has been approved for listing each year since.
1985
Ayusa receives a grant from USIA to open a Regional Center in Tokyo. Asian programs begin.
1989
Ayusa Central and Eastern Europe Regional Center (AICEE) opens in Belgrade.
1990
Ayusa opens it's Ayusa Germany office.Originally, offices were located in Stuttgart but later moved to Berlin.
2003
Ayusa is awarded a major grant from the U.S. Department of State to administer the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program, an academic year program for students from countries with significant Muslim populations.
2021
Ayusa celebrates 40 years of exchange!
What We are All About
The best way to make the world a better place is to make ourselves better. That’s what Ayusa is about. A founding member of the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET), Ayusa International is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing the next generation of global leaders and world citizens. Through quality exchange programs for high school students from around the world, we cultivate leadership skills, develop intercultural awareness and enhance global knowledge not only through education, but through experience.
Get in touch with us
Ayusa 600 California Street, Floor 10 San Francisco, CA 94108 1.800.727.4540
Ayusa and the Department of State take foreign exchange student safety, well-being and successful participation in our program seriously. If an issue with an exchange student in the U.S. arises, please let your Community Representative know. Ayusa's 24-hour phone number is 800.727.4540 and you may also send an email to studentsupport@ayusa.org. The Department of State can also be reached toll-free at 866.283.9090 or by email at jvisas@state.gov.
Meet the Ayusa Staff
The national support team, based out of Ayusa headquarters, work with Community Representatives to provide support to all.