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USA Employment is the sponsor of this program and is authorized to sponsor cultural-exchange teachers in the U.S. USAE is officially recognized by the U.S. Department of State as an Exchange Program Sponsor.

International teachers participate in cross-cultural activities in schools and communities to enhance American students’ knowledge about foreign cultures and customs. Teachers then return home to share their increased knowledge of U.S. culture, customs and teaching advancements with students in their own country.

This promotes mutual understanding between people of the U.S. and people of other countries by enriching educational and cultural exchanges.

USA EMPLOYMENT does not work with any foreign third-party Agencies.

Also, USAE does not work with any domestic third party that charges any fee from the Exchange Visitor.

Participating cultural exchange teachers earn their salary from their schools. Teacher salaries are established by individual schools and school districts based upon degree level and years of experience. Salaries and benefits offered to teachers will be the same as their American counterparts. Salaries will vary in different parts of the country, given the differences in cost of living and other factors, but typically range from $35,000 to $65,000 per year.

This will vary, depending on your host school district requirements and hire date. You may be asked to relocate immediately depending on your date of joining. Usually, teachers join their schools at the beginning of the school year (depending upon the state and school circumstances). The expected relocation time will be announced prior to or during the interview, and it will be a minimum of 14 days.

Before your interview, we will disclose the location where you will be working. USAE operates in 12 different states and will inform you which location has been selected for you prior to the interview.

You may bring a spouse and any number of your unmarried children under the age of 21 with you to the U.S. They will arrive on a J-2 visa. Any J2 dependent may travel to the United States after 180 days of your arrival. 

Your spouse can work only with an Employment Authorization document (EAD) which he obtains by applying to the Immigration & Naturalization Services (USCIS) by way of a form I-765. This can take 90 days or more to be approved.

J-1 Cultural Exchange Visitor Teachers are allowed to teach for up to 3 academic years. An extension for up to 2 years can be requested and it can take up to 4-6 weeks for approval. Participating teachers that have an intention to stay longer should contact USA Employment at least 120 days prior to the expiration of their DS-2019. A fee is applicable for all extension requests.

The Form DS-2019 or Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status is the formal document used in the administration of the exchange visitor program. This form permits a prospective exchange visitor to seek an interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in order to obtain a J visa to enter the United States. 

The Form DS-2019 identifies the exchange visitor and their designated sponsor and provides a teaching position with salary amount including the start and end date of their program. All candidates for the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program must complete this Certificate of Eligibility in order to be considered for a temporary, paid teaching position in the U.S.

J-1 Exchange visitors are subject to a two-year home-country physical presence requirement which requires you to return to your home country for at least two years at the end of your exchange visitor program. This is also known as the foreign residence requirement under U.S. law, Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 212(e). This rule applies to J-2 dependents also. As a J-1 Exchange Visitor, United States law requires a two-year period of home residency before an individual applies for a J-1 visa again.

All teachers’ school contracts are offered for one academic year and their renewal depends on performance. Some schools do offer three-year job offers which are renewed annually. Successful employment and renewal is the responsibility of the exchange teacher and largely dependent on your ability to meet evaluation criteria and performance reviews. 

Living in the U.S. can mean a higher cost of living than the teacher’s home country and it is crucial to make all necessary financial preparations before your arrival. The cost of living is different in every city and state, and varies based on many factors. You can find many resources online to help compare the cost of living across different cities and states. USAE will also provide lots of tips, suggestions and best practices for living cost-efficiently in America. You can see the cost of living specific to various cities here.

Traveling within the United States is permitted and encouraged. Vacation dates that fall outside of school closures must be approved by employers ahead of time. Independent travel is a wonderful part of the cultural exchange experience, but must be done at your own responsibility and expense. To avoid issues, we recommend traveling safely with your passport and your valid DS-2019. 

Traveling outside the U.S. is permitted as long as teachers submit a DS-2019 form and pay the $60 fee to USAE for validation. Once signed, USAE will validate your travel and sponsorship, which should permit re-entry at the border when returning. This signed document is valid for one year. Please submit this form at least three weeks prior to your travel date. 

The J-1 visa is only valid for the United States, which excludes entry to Canada and Mexico. Travel outside the U.S. will be subject to your home country requirements.

If your visa is approved, and you’ve received your new DS 2019 form with updated travel dates, you may travel inside the U.S. However once your visa expires, the extension does not permit re-entry into the U.S. if you travel abroad. Your new DS 2019 form is not a new visa, but simply attests to your legal status in the U.S. after your visa has expired. Without a new, J-1 visa, you will not be able to return to the U.S. The only way around this is to apply for a new, valid J-1 visa in the U.S. Embassy in your home country. There is no guarantee that the extension will be approved thus it is important to consider this risk before traveling internationally during your extension period. Please be aware that it is a risk you are taking. 

YES! All children between the grades of kindergarten through high school (K through 12) will receive the same quality of education offered to American children. In regards to college enrollment, the high school counselors will guide your college-aged children on how to enroll, receive financial aid, and study abroad.

Some states issue the certification within a few weeks of your arrival while others take longer. We will help you with this process. Your dedication, aptitude and commitment will often determine the speed with which you obtain teaching certification in America. It is always helpful to pass TOEFL and/or IELTS exams while you are in your country.

Many schools offer ample opportunities for employees to earn extra income to supplement their teacher salary, including but not limited to: club sponsorship stipends, coaching stipends, study hall and discipline supervisor bonuses, summer school teaching, and more. Candidates will be informed of these varying opportunities once you are settled in your school. On the J-1 visa teachers are only allowed to earn from the employer listed on their DS-2019 and cannot earn supplemental income from another employer including higher education institutions.

They can apply online at our website www.usaemployment.org and a representative will be in contact with them. Much of the information regarding our program is available online.

Yes, you will have opportunities to participate in coursework offered by a local college or university, or any other you wish to explore. Often schools encourage their teachers to take workshops, classes or attend conferences to learn more about their students. USA Employment recommends that all teachers spend at least their first full year focusing on the task of performing well in the classroom and becoming an effective American teacher, before pursuing other time-intensive academic challenges.

Yes, a change of work location is allowed on the J-1 Cultural Exchange Visa Program. However, it is a detailed process and must be approved by USA Employment prior to the change. We will approve a location change only if it is necessary for the teacher due to extenuating circumstances. A revised Form DS-2019 is required for a new work location with revised salary and other compensation information. Your new host school must sign an agreement with us prior to you signing a contract with them. The employer holds the financial responsibility on Form DS-2019 and updated information is mandatory before finalizing any commitments with a new employer.

You are permitted to stay for up to 30 days after the end date of your program as shown on your DS-2019 form. To apply for an extension for traveling for more than 30 days after your program ends, The Department of Homeland Security allows for a change in status if approved. This process must be completed well prior to your program expiration date. Please note: remaining in the U.S. illegally after the end date of your program can have serious  consequences, especially if you desire to return in the future. Keep USA Employment informed as to the end of your employment date and the end of your program date on your DS-2019. If you intend to remain in the U.S. after the fact, beyond the 30 days permitted, you will need to plan this ahead of time. USAE can assist you in applying for the extension through USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).