FAQs: Congressional Fellowship Application

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1. What is the application timeline for the 2025-2026 Fellowship?

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• The deadline to apply for the fellowship is January 31, 2025 by 11:59pm EST

• APAICS will reach out to potential host offices to gauge their interest in hosting an APAICS fellow in early 2025. 

• Applications will be reviewed as they are completed (meaning once letters of recommendation have been submitted as well as all application materials).

• Strong applicants will be invited to interview through the mid-March. 

• The finalists selected to join the 2025-2026 APAICS Congressional Fellowship cohort will be sent to congressional offices and committees that indicated a willingness to host a fellow and will conduct their own interviews with candidates. 

• Successful candidates must be selected by APAICS and secure a host office. APAICS hopes to finalize our cohort by mid-May, although due to congressional schedules, the placement process may go into summer.

• Fellows will arrive in Washington, D.C. the last week of August 2025 for orientation and start the day after Labor Day in September 2025.

 

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

 

APAICS fellows are awarded a grant of $42,000 to be distributed on a monthly schedule throughout the course of the 12-month fellowship. APAICS will reimburse up to $200 per month for the cost of health care following submission of proof of enrollment.

 

3. When does the 2025-2026 Fellowship begin and when does it end?

 

The 2025-2026 Fellowship starts on September 2, 2025, and ends on August 28, 2026.

  

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

 

Being selected as a finalist after interviewing with APAICS does not guarantee a placement in a congressional host office. Candidates will only be admitted into the fellowship cohort after they interview with and are accepted by one or more congressional offices or committees. Finalists may receive more than one request for an interview. In the case that one or more offices want to place a finalist in their office, finalists may decide which offer to accept. Alternatively, candidates may struggle to be invited to interview by a congressional office. In this case, APAICS will work with the candidate and leverage our contacts. However, 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.

 

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, in leadership offices, on committees, and in administrative offices. For a full list of alumni and previous placements, please visit our fellowship alumni page here.

 

6. Recommendation Letters

 

You will need to submit two (2) letters of recommendation. As part of your application, you will be asked to 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) your involvement in the AA & NH/PI community; 2) how the fellowship will unlock your leadership potential; and/or 3) your demonstrated commitment to public service.

 

Please have them submit their letter of recommendation here, by January 31, 2025 at 11:59 EST. We will review completed applications on a rolling basis and so it is to your benefit to have everything submitted as soon as possible. 

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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 both Democratic and Republican offices to apply. Our goal is to provide the best fellowship experience regardless of party affiliation.

 

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.

 

9. Is housing assistance provided?

 

No. APAICS does not provide housing assistance for congressional 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. 

 

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 again 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.