Who We Are
The San Antonio Council for International Visitors (SACIV) is an organization that arranges professional programming and home hospitality for emerging international leaders who have been selected by the U.S. State Department to come to the United States.
Hundreds of these international visitors come to San Antonio each year, providing opportunities for fostering economic development and cross-cultural understanding. In addition to meeting with professionals in their fields, visitors are invited into the homes of SACIV members for a meal, giving them invaluable first-hand experience with everyday Americans.
The purpose of SACIV is to cultivate mutual understanding and to dispel misconceptions about the United States by introducing foreign visitors to the rich, diverse composition of our society.
SACIV is non-profit, 501 (c)(3) and is affiliated with the National Council of International Visitors (NCIV) that is sponsored by the U. S. State Department. SACIV establishes international visitor programs that provide information exchanges with professional resources from the San Antonio area.
Shaping U.S. Foreign Relations
"One Handshake At A Time"
The National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) is a nonprofit membership association currently marking 50 years of leadership in citizen diplomacy. NCIV's membership includes individuals, program agencies, and more than 90 organizations in communities throughout the United States. NCIV members design and implement professional programs, provide cultural activities, and offer home hospitality opportunities for foreign leaders and specialists participating in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and other exchange programs. With leadership and training provided by NCIV, member organizations are expert at matching the resources of their communities with the needs of international visitors. Each year the aggregate efforts of NCIV members involve more than 80,000 volunteers.