Overview

 

APAICS 2025-2026 Congressional Fellows will receive:

 

• A grant of $3700 monthly throughout the duration of the 12-month Fellowship (total $44,400) 

• Domestic round-trip transportation to/from Washington, D.C. at the beginning and end of the Fellowship

• The opportunity to visit the district of their congressional host office or to attend a conference relevant to their work portfolio

• Professional work experience in Washington, DC

• Professional development programs, networking, and access to the APAICS alumni network

 

Program Requirements

 

Fellows will:

 

• Work a minimum of 40 hours a week at the host office

• Attend orientation prior to the start of the Fellowship 

• Attend evening professional development seminars (generally twice a month) to meet with a guest speaker and share their fellowship experience with their cohort 

• Attend and serve as ambassadors for APAICS at APAICS-sponsored events during the workday and after work hours, including but not limited to:

  • APAICS Policy Summit reception

  • APAICS Legislative Leadership Summit

  • APAICS Quarterly Networking Events

  • APAICS End of Year Briefing

  • APAICS Holiday Party

  • APAICS Annual Awards Gala

• Participate in at least 75% of required APAICS programming to maintain good standing

• Meet quarterly for one-on-one meetings with the APAICS Vice President of Programs & Community Engagement

• Write letters of appreciation to their sponsor at the start and at the end of their participation in the Fellowship

• Write a letter of appreciation to the Host Office at the end of their participation in the Fellowship

• Comply with APAICS policies regarding work performance and personal conduct

• Research a policy topic of significance to the AA & NH/PI community and present a policy briefing on the matter towards the end of the Fellowship

 

Eligibility Requirements

 

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

 

• Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree or have at least five years of public service experience prior to the start of the fellowship

  • Note: Some congressional offices will only accept applicants with a graduate degree. Having a graduate degree is advantageous as it will broaden a candidate’s ability to interview with a larger pool of host offices, but it is not required for the fellowship program.

• Be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or individuals who are legally authorized to work full-time without restriction for any U.S. employer and who possess lawful evidence of employment authorization. International students on F-1 or M-1 visas are not eligible.

  • Note: Individuals who are seeking consideration under the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival” (DACA) policy must possess an Employment Authorization Document at the time of application that is valid throughout the program.

• Family members of the APAICS Board of Directors or National Advisory Council are prohibited from participating in any APAICS programs.

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Application Guidelines

 

Completed applications will include a(n):

 

• Cover letter expressing interest in the program

• Resume (one page maximum)

• Academic transcript

• Two letters of recommendation

• Responses to the following three questions (Each response should be no more than one page, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font.):

 

• How do you envision the APAICS fellowship playing a role in your career path and what do you hope to gain from it? Why are you applying?

 

• Describe your experience in the U.S. with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander communities. When have you lived near or far from these communities, and how has that proximity—or lack of it—shaped your views on public policy?

 

• Describe a challenging situation you have personally experienced. How did you handle it and what did you learn from your experience? 

 

 

Deadline to apply: December 12, 2025 at 11:59PM ET

 

Selection Process

 

The APAICS Congressional Fellowship Program is a highly competitive program. Applications are reviewed in a multi-step process by a Selection Committee that includes Fellowship alumni, APAICS staff, and members of the APAICS Board of Directors.

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Round 1 - Application review: Each application is reviewed and scored by members of the Selection Committee. Applications are evaluated based on demonstrated leadership and leadership potential, community involvement, commitment to public service, clarity of writing, and the ability to embrace challenges.

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Round 2 - Interview: Top candidates receive an invitation to interview with members of the Selection Committee. Interviews are scored based on leadership qualities and experience, professionalism, commitment to public service, and future plans and aspirations.

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Round 3 - Selection of Finalists: Top candidates following Round 2 will be designated as finalists by the Selection Committee. 

 

Round 4 - Finalist Interviews: Finalist application packages are forwarded to congressional office partners for interviews and placement.

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Questions?

 

Please visit our FAQ page or contact: programs@apaics.org.

 

Please do not contact the office regarding your application status. Candidates who advance will be contacted with instructions for next steps. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to all applicants.​