What are my responsibilities as a professional host?
As a professional host you will provide an international visitor with the opportunity to see the
daily activity of your organization. These short term, unpaid training visits, lasting from a few days up
to two weeks, allow visitors a better understanding of how business is conducted in America. They are
interested in management; organization; employee training; and customer relations.
Your visitor wants to understand the services your organization provides, your financial record-keeping
system, and what marketing strategies you use. He or she wishes to learn how you have established
yourself as a successful professional. This is an educational exchange or professional ideas for the
visitor and the professional host.
Many successful professional contacts have been made through LICC programs, resulting in relationships
between Kentuckiana businesses and professionals and former LICC visitors. These partnerships continue
to flourish due to newly developing markets worldwide.
What will the international visitor do at my workplace?
Professional hosts have many different ways of sharing their expertise with international visitors.
Some hosts schedule their visitor with a different department and/or person each day. Others simply have
the visitor accompany them throughout their workday. This is what referred to as professional shadowing.
The visitor wants to see how your professional day operates by sitting in on the meetings, dealing with
problems, etc.
Also, if he or she can help in any way--working on the computer or performing any routine staff duty
- this would enhance his/her experience at your organization. Such interaction makes the visitor feel
more comfortable in your workplace, as well as provides help to you, the host. Your visitor will have
questions about your profession and your organization. Ideas or tasks that may seem simple or routine to
you will be interesting and new for your guest.
Because the participants are not your employees, they are not eligible for workman's compensation. They are, however, fully covered by a health insurance policy issued by the United States State Department.
How will my visitor get to work and home each day?
Visitors are responsible for their transportation to and from work. Your visitor's transportation will be arranged by the host family and LICC staff. Professional hosts are not expected to provide any transportation; however, a co-worker might offer a ride if convenient.
Should I take my visitor to lunch?
A: All participants receive a per diem to cover daily expenses. You are neither responsible for providing nor paying for your visitor's lunch. You are welcome to invite him or her to join you for lunch.
How can I spend more time with my visitor?
A: If you would like your visitor to spend additional time at your organization after his or her
scheduled appointments there, please contact LICC via phone (502.561.5422) or email (programs@licc.org) to inquire about any free time on
the visitor's calendar. Each visitor has a pre-scheduled program and may have several professional hosts
during his or her visit.
If it is possible to meet with your visitor again, arrangements must be made to avoid schedule conflicts. If you would like to spend time with your visitor after work, you will need to call the visitor's host family to make sure they have no plans for the evening.
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