The Council of International Programs Chicago (CIP Chicago) is a non-profit international educational exchange program, committed to promoting international understanding through professional development and cross-cultural exchange. CIP Chicago works with area businesses and non-profit organizations in developing high quality, work-based training opportunities and recruiting and placing highly qualified and motivated professionals to match those opportunities. CIP arranges J-1 visa for visiting professionals. Founded in 1957 to promote cross-cultural exchange between the U.S. and post-war Germany, today CIP Chicago functions as an affiliate of CIP USA that works with the U.S. Department of State in arranging the J-1 visa exchange visitor program. Over the years CIP has brought nearly 15,000 international professionals from 147 countries to the United States for practical training. Many of these have come to Chicago.
What We Do
CIP Chicago identifies work for work-based training opportunities with businesses and non-profit organizations in Illinois and recruits highly qualified professionals from around the world, arranges timely and affordable J-1 Visa for these professionals.
CIP designs and conducts orientation for the professionals it recruits, upon their arrival in the U. S. that covers a variety of relevant topics such as American work habits, lifestyle, local transportation, systems of education, government, religion, separation of state and church etc. This intensive program prepares visiting professionals to start their work and learning without any further delay.
CIP Chicago also arranges periodic reviews of performances as desired by the host institution and organizes periodic cultural enrichment activities. CIP Chicago functions as one of the offices of CIP USA and is committed to ensuring that each individual completes well-designed training program that meets the needs of the host institution while also fulfills their own professional and personal needs. To learn how your organization could benefit from this program send an email to gp@cipchicago.org or call (312) 545-6882
J-1 Training Visa program is open to both applicants who already have a training program lined up in the United States and to those who are still looking for opportunities. Our affiliate offices are capable of matching qualified applicants with local organizations for a period of two to six months in duration.
Cultural exchange training programs in the U.S. are designed to allow foreign professionals to come to the United States to gain exposure to U.S. culture and to receive training in U.S. business practices in their chosen occupational field. Programs are also designed to enhance Americans’ knowledge of foreign cultures and skills through an open interchange of ideas between participants and their American associates. These programs require a J-1 visa, which is a non-immigrant cultural exchange visa issued by the U.S. Department of State.
Cultural exchange intern programs are designed to allow students of degree-seeking programs or recent graduates from foreign universities to come to the United States to gain exposure to U.S. culture and to gain professional experience their chosen field of study. Programs are also designed to enhance Americans’ knowledge of foreign cultures and skills through an open interchange of ideas between participants and their American associates. These internships require a J-1 visa, which is a non-immigrant cultural exchange visa issued by the U.S. Department of State.
Building bridges among cultures has been the heart of CIPUSA programming from our inception. We strive to foster a better understanding of each other, our professions, and our communities. To help promote our mission, CIPUSA has developed the Building Bridges Program, a six-week professional development program under the Civil Society Theme: Social Services and NGO Administration. The program focuses on personal development, professional development, and community impact. In addition to fostering introspection and career development, the program aims to give participants the tools to better understand their host community in the U.S. and their own hometowns and to build a bridge to connect the two communities internationally.
The Open World Program at the Library of Congress brings emerging leaders from post-Soviet states to the U.S. in order to give them firsthand exposure to the American system of participatory democracy and free enterprise. The principles of accountability, transparency, and citizen involvement in government are among the concepts emphasized by the Open World Program. Today Open World has more than 14,000 alumni and a network of some 6,000 U.S. host families. The program is funded by the Open World Leadership Center (the Center), an independent entity established in the U.S. legislative branch in 2000. CIPUSA and several affiliate offices began hosting Open World delegations in 2009. Recent delegations have been hosted from Russia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Moldova.