ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

USTL is a merit-based, open competition.

An eligible candidate for the USTL Program:

• Is a citizen, national, or permanent resident qualified to hold a valid passport issued by the government of Timor-Leste;
• Has completed or is in the process of completing his/her final year of secondary school;
• May be enrolled in an undergraduate study;
• Is able to begin the USTL Program in the United States in August 2025;
• Will be at least 18 years old when the program starts;
• Is eligible for admission to a U.S. undergraduate degree program or will become eligible upon completion of an ESL program;
• Is able to receive and maintain a J-1 visa;
• Is proficient in spoken and written English at the time of application;
• Is able to demonstrate leadership skills and an interest in cross-cultural understanding;
• Is committed to returning to his/her home country after completion of the program;
• Meets any additional requirements of the host institution in the U.S; and
• Agrees to submit a complete application with all required documents by the application deadline.

Individuals in the following circumstances are NOT eligible for the USTL Program:

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States;
• Employees of the U.S. Embassy and their immediate family members, for a period of one year following termination of such employment;
• Persons arrested for, charged with, or convicted of a crime (excluding minor traffic violations);
• Candidates in their final year of undergraduate study and those with bachelor’s degrees, obtained either in Timor-Leste or abroad.