Global Ties San Francisco proudly partners with the U.S. Department of State, Office of International Visitors and the U.S. Speaker Program to implement the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Through this professional exchange, we welcome 700 international visitors annually to the Bay Area, fostering meaningful connections between global leaders and our community and bringing over $1.3 million to the local economy.
Since its inception in 1940, the IVLP has been a cornerstone of U.S. public diplomacy, based on the conviction that people-to-people interactions are just as crucial as traditional diplomacy to building strong global alliances and lasting peace. The program brings current and emerging leaders from around the world to the United States to explore critical global issues with their peers and engage with local Citizen Diplomats, gaining more balanced perspectives of the United States.
The U.S. Department of State administers the IVLP in cooperation with implementing non-profit partners based in Washington D.C. and community-based organizations across the country that are members of the Global Ties U.S. Network. Selected by U.S. Embassies worldwide, the visitors are current or potential leaders in government, business, media, nongovernmental organizations, education, and other fields.
During an up to three-week exchange, participants on average visit four U.S. cities to engage with their professional counterparts and experience firsthand the breadth, dynamism, and hospitality of the United States, allowing them to better understand our nation and its people. Each IVLP project reflects participants’ professional interests and supports the foreign policy goals of the United States.
More than 500 current and former Chiefs of State or Heads of Government, 1,600 cabinet-level ministers, and many other distinguished world leaders in both private and public spheres have participated in the IVLP.
Eight Japanese leaders explored Silicon Valley's startup culture, venture capital ecosystem, and innovation ties with Japan through the IVLP in...
AI is transforming economies, labor markets, and societies worldwide, prompting important conversations about the future. In June 2026, Global Ties...
Six European media experts sought to better understand how AI and emerging tech are reshaping journalistic practices....
The International Visitor Leadership Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by members of Global Ties U.S.
