Thai American National Internship Program

Thai American National Internship Program (TANIP)

The Thai American National Internship Program (TANIP) is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Thai-American students to gain a firsthand look at the American government and political system in Washington DC, and to reflect on the role they, as future leaders, might play in strengthening the US-Thai relationship.

The US-Asia Institute, in consultation with The Royal Thai Embassy, initiated TANIP in 2015 to provide Thai-American students with the opportunity to intern/shadow in various offices of elected officials, public agencies, or private organizations at the national level. This opportunity provides a stronger understanding of how government operates by experiencing it from an insider’s perspective.

The program prepares young leaders to participate in the political/legislative arenas and is dedicated to developing skills of individuals who are interested in public service and civic engagement. Not only is this an invaluable professional experience, but it also benefits the Thai-American community by increasing the interest of this American community in American politics, government, and public service in the future.

Understanding and participating in the political process and engaging with government at all levels is crucial to ensuring that a community’s needs and concerns are heard and addressed. The Thai community in the United States should be more civically engaged and represented at the municipal, state, and national levels.

You can download the one-pager detailing information of TANIP HERE.

The 2025 program is organized to provide the opportunity for Thai-American students and young graduates to come to Washington D.C. from 2 June – 15 August, 2025 (11 weeks) to get hands-on experience in the policymaking process and spend 1-2 weeks at the Royal Thai Embassy, gaining hands-on experience on Thai-US relations.

To read statements from our past TANIP cohort, see our TANIP alumni page HERE.

2025 TANIP applications will open November 8th, 2024

Apply

2025 TAnip Program

Candidate Qualifications:
- Age 18-25 years old
- Enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in good academic standing OR recently completed degree
- U.S. citizenship
- Leadership ability and good interpersonal skills
- Record of community service or interest therein
- Written and spoken fluency in English
- Thai descent
Required Documents:
- Resume with photo
- Statement of Intent and Impact
- A copy of your most recent transcript
- A copy of ID, passport, or another official document as proof of US citizenship
- A copy of parent’s ID, passport, or other official documents as proof of Thai ancestry
- Letter(s) of recommendation - one required & an optional second
November 8, 2024: Application released.
January 13, 2025: Deadline for Application. Click the apply button above to begin your application process.
On a rolling basis: Candidates selected and contacted for interviews.
February 14, 2025: Acceptance of TANIP 2024 participants.
March - May 2025: The US-Asia Institute will place participants in internships at prominent organizations in DC and pair with mentors.
June 2 - June 6, 2025: Week-long orientation with fellow participants for a series of meetings with successful DC professionals, professional development workshops, international relations experts, etc.
June 9 – August 1, 2025: Internship at host organization.
August 4 - 15, 2025: One or two week Internship at the Royal Thai Embassy.
June 2 to August 8, 2025
June 1: Arrive in Washington, D.C.
June 2-6: Orientation/Introduction to the City
Visits/Meetings with Representatives from The Executive and Judicial Branch (The White House, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Trade Representative, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Supreme Court); Legislative Branch; Policy Influencers (Think Tanks, Journalists, Lobbyists, and Businesses/Private Sector)
Site Visits/Tours of the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the Pentagon
June 9-13: CONGRESS/GOVERNMENT IN ACTION: Shadowing/Internship
June 16-20: CONGRESS/GOVERNMENT IN ACTION: Shadowing/Internship
June 23-27: CONGRESS/GOVERNMENT IN ACTION: Shadowing/Internship
June 30- July 4: CONGRESS/GOVERNMENT IN ACTION: Shadowing/Internship
July 7-11: CONGRESS/GOVERNMENT IN ACTION: Shadowing/Internship
July 14-18: CONGRESS/GOVERNMENT IN ACTION: Shadowing/Internship
July 21-25: CONGRESS/GOVERNMENT IN ACTION: Shadowing/Internship
July 28-August 1: CONGRESS/GOVERNMENT IN ACTION: Shadowing/Internship
August 4-15: Internship at the Royal Thai Embassy (1 or 2 weeks)
August 8: Program Wrap-Up/Evaluation
August 8: Certificate Presentation at the Royal Thai Embassy
August 9 or 16: Return Home
Participants are responsible for all expenses related to the program (estimated to be approximately $2000), which include travel to Washington, D.C. and return to home location; housing (housing recommendations available through the US-Asia Institute or on own); food; ground transportation throughout the program; and cultural and spending money.
The Thai American Youth Political Leadership Awards sponsored by the Royal Thai Embassy will be given to participants to help cover expenses for the program. Interested participants must indicate their needs for financial assistance in the application form.
All participants must, after acceptance into the program, show proof of health insurance and sign a liability waiver.