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J1 Visa Teacher Exchange Fees

CHF Sponsorship fee are paid by school or school district, not by teachers:

• Year 1: $1,400
• Year 2: $800
• Year 3: $400
• Year 4 & 5 (flat fee): $1,000 + State Dept $367 fee
• Year 5: $00

Teacher or school can pay remaining costs and fees:

J-2 Dependents upon request – not automatic 

Spouse – $300/year   
Child – $100/year (must be school age: 3-5 depending upon state – no toddlers)

American Embassy J-1 visa passport stamp issuance fees: 

• $185 for J-1 nonimmigrant visa application
• $220 for SEVIS fee
  +possible charges for courier envelope or services to send passport

Miscellaneous non-refundable fees: 

Union dues: Public Schools only – cost varies by school district and state

Teachers may have to pay teacher union dues which can range from $50 to $100 per month and are determined by the individual school district in the area of the country where you will teach.  Note that teacher union membership is usually optional.  Weigh the benefits against the cost before joining. 
Here’s a map of the Right-to-Work states that are not required to have unions. In means in almost half the states in the United States – 24 Right-to-Work states – schools are not required to have unions.  Ask your individual school management if there is a union or not before arriving so that you can factor in the cost in case you choose to join.

Your host school may enroll you (at their discretion) in a retirement program and deduct a percentages  of your salary as your required contribution.  You are, however, exempt from paying social security and medicare taxes (6.2%) for the first year and a half that you work in the US under J-1 visa status.

School sets up Exchange Teacher Program with the Cordell Hull Foundation

Watch our 5-minute New Program Video in English:  www.vimeo.com/855693869
or Spanish:  www.vimeo.com/272480420
or read the SET-UP GUIDE for detailed instructions.

Confirm a teacher is qualified for J-1 teacher visa before taking other steps. See ELIGIBILITY below.

Exchange sponsorship fees to CHF are paid by the school, school district, or charter school company, not by the teacher individually.  The American Embassy charges $185 + $220 to issue the J1 teacher visa in the passport.  A teacher may pay these fees or be reimbursed by the school.

J-1 teacher visa Eligibility Requirements

J-1 Exchange Visitor Program Regulations (22 CFR Part 62) require foreign nationals invited by a school, district or state to:

(1) possess the qualifications for teaching in kindergarten, primary or secondary schools in country of nationality or last legal residence;
(2) have two years of full-time teaching experience previous to application for J-1 teacher visa;
(3) satisfy the standards of the US state in which they will teach;
(4) be proficient in the English language;
(5) be of good reputation and character, and teach full time a minimum of 32 hours per week;
(6) teach at a similar level (kinder, primary, middle or secondary) at which they are trained in home country;
(7) posses the equivalent of a four-year U.S. university degree in teaching or the subject they will teach;
(8) be working as a TEACHER (not a principal, curriculum coordinator, etc.) at the time of application.

Restrictions on previous recruitment guidelines (after 2-29-2016):

(a) A candidate who has been a teacher for 20 years but promoted to school principal the year before application can be disqualified.
(b) The candidate must actually be teaching at the time of application (submitting candidature to the school).
(c) A candidate may not be placed at the K3 or K4 level unless teaching foreign language immersion in an elementary, K-8, or K-12 school.

Although CHF is not an International Teacher placement or recruitment agency, we collect resumes/CVs from exemplary educators seeking J1 visa support.  For U.S. schools who consider hiring an International Teacher, we search applications in our database and provide them free of charge. Teachers may apply by filling out our interactive application in Zoho.

Schools have certain responsibilities which are spelled out in the CHFHost School Responsibilities Course spelled out on ourwebpage.

Please note: Administrative Fees are generally non-refundable. 

Health Insurance Requirements

Teacher or school must pay cost for one school year of $100,000 health insurance with minimum $500 deductible for J-1 teachers plus all J-2 dependents.  We offer a group plan for $47/month per J-1 or J-2 regardless of age.  Teacher or school self-enrollment.  The Cordell Hull Foundation covers medical evacuation and repatriation free of charge to all J-1 and J-2 participants as part of the sponsorship fee.

Click on CHF blog for details:  http://j1visateachexc.blogspot.com

J-2 Dependent Fees – spouse or child only

J-2 dependent spouse – $300 per year 
J-2 dependent child – $200 per year 

CHF will consider sponsoring children on a case-by-case basis.  We do not automatically agree to sponsor young children, taking into account support and supervision available and other factors.  A child must be at least school age (3-5), depending upon the minimum age entrance available in the particular region or city.

Cordell Hull Foundation offices are centrally located in midtown Manhattan on Fifth Avenue across from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Visit by appointment only.  CHF has been designated since 1962 to administer teacher exchanges and sponsor J-1 and J-2 visas by the US government. 

*Teacher sponsorship fees include:

1. school and teacher screening,
2. five-hour new-teacher orientation seminar in major U.S. cities or online orientation course in English, French or Spanish,
3. pre-arrival and orientation manual in three languages,
4. visa and immigration booklets in six languages,
5. instructions and advice on how to apply for and interview for the J-1 teacher exchange visa at American Embassies worldwide,
6. 40 instruction videos on various aspects of the exchange program in four languages, such as how to conduct yourself on visa interview, prepare cultural activity reports, extend the term for the 4th-5th years, interact with parents, cope with culture shock
7. continual monitoring and consultation throughout the 1-5 year term.

Schools and public school districts are invited to learn more about the teacher exchange J-1 visa program and that which we stand ready and able to do for you.  After enjoying the experience of teaching in the United States on a temporary basis of one to five years, program participants are expected to return home to share realistic feedback on American culture.
For details, click on FAQs … Frequently Asked Questions.

CHF Teacher Exchange blog:  http://j1visateachexc.blogspot.com/
CORDELL HULL FOUNDATION Memo of Understanding

Pictured below:  All-Saints-Day Tribute to deLesseps S. “Toni” Morrison, former CHF Executive Director

Teachers are contracted by the school, school district or state education system on a temporary basis for a period of one year at a time, extendable to five years. Participants are expected to remain at the original host school for 1-5 years, then return to their native countries to exercise skills and knowledge acquired in the United States, thus strengthening the ties which unite us with other nations.

Other initiatives include production of a film series on the life of Cordell Hull in partnership with DVA Productions, New York.  CHF recommends through the d.s. Toni Morrison Summer Studies Program in Antigua, Guatemala the expert one-on-one instruction offered by native-speaking specialists at the Escuela San Jose el Viejo for short-term intensive study.  Students have the opportunity of living with a Guatemalan family.

Webpage written by CHF Trustees and edited by Joseph Scott, Communications Director.

	Click here to go to CHF Teacher Application in English. Save the file using your last name.
	CORDELL HULL FOUNDATION Memo of Understanding – Required for Teacher Applicants to print and sign
	Haga click al lado de la bandera española para la solicitud de la Fundación Cordell Hull para Maestros en español
	Ficher de candidature de CHF en français