CHCI Congressional Internship Summer 2027 - Paid in DC

A paid internship run by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute that places undergraduates and recent graduates in congressional offices in Washington, DC. CHCI has spent forty years building pathways for future Latino leaders, and the internship pairs a real Capitol Hill placement with weekly leadership development built around its four pillars: Self Discovery, Transformation through Collective Power, Rooted in my Strength, and Planting Seeds for Tomorrow.

$4,776 for the summer session and $5,400 for the autumn one. On top of the pay come furnished housing with rent and utilities covered, domestic round-trip transportation to Washington, medical insurance with all premiums paid by CHCI, and a $100 per month Metro stipend. That combination is what separates it from the many Capitol Hill internships that pay little or nothing and quietly exclude anyone without family money.

1 December 2026, with applications launching on 15 August 2026. The Summer 2027 programme itself runs 19 May to 30 July 2027. If that timing does not work, the Fall 2027 session closes on 1 March 2027 and runs 18 August to 12 November 2027, so there are two chances in the same application year.

CHCI's published eligibility criteria do not list Hispanic or Latino heritage as a requirement. They cover enrolment, work authorisation, academic achievement, leadership and public service. CHCI describes its interns as coming from different heritages and backgrounds, while being clear that its mission is developing Latino leaders and that programming includes Hispanic Heritage Month events. If you are unsure how your own background fits, ask CHCI directly rather than relying on a third-party summary.

Not on a student visa. CHCI states that international students on F-1 or M-1 visas are not eligible for its programmes. Applicants must be US citizens, lawful permanent residents, asylees, or otherwise lawfully authorised to work full time without restriction for any US employer, and must hold evidence of that authorisation when they apply. This is the single most common reason a strong application is ruled out.

Yes, with conditions. CHCI states that individuals seeking consideration under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy must be eligible to work and possess valid employment authorisation at the time of acceptance, and must maintain continuous lawful employment authorisation for the full duration of the programme. Check your renewal dates against the programme dates before you apply.

Yes to both. Interns receive furnished housing with rent and utilities covered, and domestic round-trip transportation to Washington, DC. Medical insurance is included with every premium paid by CHCI, and there is a $100 per month Metro stipend for getting around the city. The pay is on top of all of that rather than expected to cover it.

In two competitive stages. First a written application, then an asynchronous prerecorded interview. Both are reviewed by a selection committee made up of programme alumni, members of the CHCI Board of Directors and Advisory Council, and CHCI staff. Having alumni on the panel matters in practice: they have done the summer and can tell from an answer whether you understand what you are signing up for.

A minimum of 32 hours a week in the congressional office assignment, and that is only the placement itself. Add an eight-day orientation at the start, weekly leadership development sessions running throughout, attendance at CHCI events including summits and Hispanic Heritage Month programming, and community service hours. Treat the session as a full-time commitment with no room for a second job.