Become a Host Employer for International Teachers on a J-1 Visa

Overview of the J-1 Teacher Exchange Program

What is the J-1 Exchange Program?

The Exchange Visitor Program (allows for a J-1 visa) is a non-immigrant visa that allows eligible international candidates to travel and gain experience in the United States by participating in work- and study-based programs. J-1 visas can be obtained for several purposes which includes teaching.

What is the J-1 Teacher Exchange Program?

Exchange teachers teach full-time in an accredited K-12 public or private school for up to 3 years with one- or two-year extensions permitted with application to the sponsor. Exchange teachers will sharpen their professional skills and participate in cross-cultural activities in their school and communities. Exchange teachers can repeat a teacher exchange after 24 months of residency outside of the United States. NOTE: Exchange teachers may also teach pre-kindergarten only if they are teaching full-time language immersion at an accredited host school.

Who is involved in the J-1 Exchange Program?

Image listing the names of who is involved in the J-1 Exchange Program. In order from top to bottom, the roles are Visiting Teacher, J-1 Sponsor organizations, Host Employer, Recruitment/Placement Agencies, and Immigration Attorney.

Visiting Teachers sharpen their professional skills and participate in cross-cultural activities in schools and communities. At the end of the exchange period, they return to their home school to share their experiences and increased knowledge of the United States and the US educational system.
Host Employers hire, place, and onboard international teachers in their schools and districts. They provide exchange teachers support through their relocation and working experience in the US. They involve exchange teachers in school and community cultural activities and monitor the performance of exchange teachers in the classroom and in carrying out official responsibilities.
J-1 Program Sponsors complete the DS-2019 and work with the US Department of State to meet visa regulations. They screen and select qualified foreign teachers based on qualifications, verify English language proficiency, monitor the exchange teachers' stay in the US, and ensures each exchange teacher completes a cultural activity component annually. Most sponsors can also offer recruitment services to host employers.
Recruitment and Placement Agencies assist employers in finding candidates interested in teaching in the United States. Though they are not program sponsors, they may be able to connect visiting teachers and host employers with program sponsors. Each recruitment/placement agency offers different services to their teacher candidates and host employers. It is important to ask these agencies about the services provided, the fees charged, and who is responsible for paying their fees.
Immigration Attorneys are optional for the J-1 visa program because the Program sponsor will work with the visiting teacher to secure the visa. They are helpful when host employers begin to consider other visa programs or pathways to citizenship for their international teachers.

What requirements must an International Teacher meet to qualify for a J-1 visa?

They must be a current teacher or have had at least two years of full-time teaching experience in the past 8 years and have completed an advanced degree (beyond a bachelor's degree) in the past 12 months. In addition to holding a teaching position, they must hold a bachelor's degree equivalent, possess sufficient proficiency in English, must have at least two years of teaching experience, and must be eligible to hold a license in Colorado. They must be a full-time teacher of record and submit a clean background check from their home country.

What is the cost of the J-1 Teacher Exchange Program?

Program costs can vary depending upon the fees charged by the sponsor organization and whether a recruitment or placement agency is used. Mandatory fees include the Student and Exchange Visitor Information (SEVIS) fee of $220, US Consulate Interview fee of ~$185, and, if applicable, a visa extension fee of $400. Insurance coverage requirements that visiting teachers must hold may result in additional expenses for them. Other costs to consider include relocation/living expenses, licensing and background check fees, transportation costs, and housing or other deposits. Costs may be paid solely by the visiting teacher or shared by the host employer and visiting teacher.

How many sponsor organizations are present in Colorado?

Sections 7.2.14 and 9.3.2 of the User Manual for Temporary Users of SEVIS (How to Complete and Submit the Form DS-3036, Exchange Visitor Program Application) require new sponsors to submit approval letters (or letters of no objection) from the State Department of Education for each state in which foreign teachers will be placed in public schools. Every sponsor, regardless of its designation date, must ensure that the Office of Private Sector Exchange Designation has copies of all approval letters in its program file prior to placing an exchange teacher in that state.

The Colorado Department of Education issues letters of no objection to program sponsors interested in placing international teachers in Colorado public schools. There is no approval process in place for the program sponsors who have requested a letter of no objection. There are 22 Program Sponsors with letters of no objection on file with the Office of Private Sector Exchange Designation. It should be noted that a sponsor with a letter of no objection may not be currently placing exchange visitors in Colorado. For a complete list of J-1 Program sponsors, visit the BridgeUSA webpage.

Schools and districts should reach out directly to program sponsors to learn more about their organizations and how they serve visiting teachers and host employers. Some sample questions are included to start the conversation.

Graphic of example questions to ask of program sponsors. The questions listed are What services do you provide the district? What is the total cost for the teacher? What is the total cost for the host employer? What services do you provide the teacher? What support with logistics do you provide the teacher? What requirements do you have for teacher placement?

Who can I contact for more information about the J-1 Teacher Exchange Program?

Contact the Educator Recruitment and Retention team in the Educator Career Navigation Office at educator_recruitment@cde.state.co.us. For more information about the J-1 visa program, visit the BridgeUSA webpage.