FAQs: Congressional Fellowship Application

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1. What is the application timeline for the 2026-2027 Fellowship?

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• The deadline to apply for the fellowship is 11:59 PM EST, December 12, 2025.

• January-February 2026: Round 1 Applications review. 

• February-March 2026: Round 2 Interviews.  

• March 2026: Round 3 Selection of Fellowship finalists by Selection Committee; Finalists notified of status as a Fellowship Finalist; Application packets for 2026-27 APAICS Congressional Fellowship finalists sent to congressional offices that expressed interest in hosting a fellow.

• Late March/early April 2026-Summer 2026: Finalists interview with potential congressional host offices and committees and secure placements.

• August 2026: Fellows arrive in Washington, D.C. the last week of August for orientation.

• September 8, 2026: Fellowship begins.

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2. How much is the grant and what are the other benefits of the Congressional Fellowship program?

 

APAICS fellows are awarded a grant of $3700 monthly throughout the duration of the 12-month Fellowship (total $44,400). 

 

Other benefits:

• A grant of $3700 distributed 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

 

3. When does the 2026-2027 Fellowship begin and when does it end?

 

The 2026-2027 Fellowship starts on September 8, 2026, and ends on August 27, 2027.

  

4. Am I guaranteed a placement with a congressional office?

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Being selected as a finalist after interviewing with APAICS does not guarantee a placement in a congressional host office. Finalists will only be admitted into the Fellowship cohort after they interview with and accept an offer from a congressional office that was extended through the APAICS process. Finalists may receive more than one request for an interview. In the event a finalist receives more than one offer, the finalist may decide which offer to accept. Alternatively, finalists may struggle to be invited to interview by a congressional office. In this case, APAICS will work with the finalist and leverage our contacts to try and garner more interviews. Congressional offices have sole discretion to extend an offer. Finalists will only join the cohort following acceptance of a placement offer from a congressional office, the submission of all relevant APAICS paperwork, and a successful background check.

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5. Which office will I be placed in?

 

APAICS prioritizes placements in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) member offices. Fellows are placed across House and Senate personal offices, leadership offices, and committees. Placements may vary year to year and are based on several factors including host office interest and needs. For a full list of alumni and previous placements, please visit our fellowship alumni page here.

 

6. Recommendation Letters

 

As part of your application, you will be asked to submit two (2) letters of recommendation and list the names and email addresses of your two recommenders. Please ask your recommenders to write a letter on your behalf that speaks to: 1) how your recommender knows you; 2) your character and personal qualities; 3) your fit for the Fellowship; and/or 4) your demonstrated commitment to public service.

 

Please have them submit their letter of recommendation HERE, by December 12, 2026 at 11:59 EST.

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7. Does party affiliation impact eligibility for the Fellowship? 

 

No. APAICS is a non-partisan organization and encourages applicants interested in serving in Democrat or Republican offices to apply. Our goal is to provide the best fellowship experience regardless of party affiliation. You can hear from Fellowship alumni who served in Republican offices speak about their experience in the program here, and Fellowship alumni who served in Democrat offices here.

 

8. Can DACA recipients apply?

Yes. 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.

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9. Is housing assistance provided?

 

No. APAICS does not provide housing assistance for Fellows.

 

10. If I am not accepted, can I apply again in the future?

Yes. We encourage unsuccessful applicants to apply again in the future.

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11. Is it possible to defer my placement as a fellow?

 

No. If you decline to participate in the cohort to which you are admitted, we will not hold your place in a future cohort. You must reapply if you wish to participate in a different year.

 

If you have additional questions, please contact programs@apaics.org.

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Please do not contact the office in regard to your application status. Only qualified candidates will be directly contacted by program supervisors. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to all applicants.