Teach In America LLC: Our Role
Teach In America LLC is a professional consulting firm dedicated to providing administrative support and guidance to international educators. Our services are focused on helping you navigate the requirements of the U.S. educational system, including documentation organization and preparation for your transition to teaching in the U.S. We serve as a resource for information and administrative coordination throughout your journey.
1. What is a J-1 visa?
A J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued by the United States to research scholars, professors, and exchange visitors participating in programs that promote cultural exchange. For educators, this program is designed to facilitate mutual cultural sharing and professional development within U.S. schools.
Learn more: U.S. Department of State - J-1 Visa Basics
2. What is a J-2 visa?
A J-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued to the spouses and dependents (unmarried children under the age of 21) of a J-1 exchange visitor, allowing them to accompany or later join the J-1 holder in the United States.
Learn more: U.S. Department of State - J-2 Visa Info
3. How long can you stay in the US on a J-1 visa?
The J-1 Teacher Program allows foreign educators to teach in accredited primary and secondary schools in the U.S. for up to 3 years, with the possibility of a 1 or 2-year extension depending on program approval.
4. What is a Credential Evaluation?
A credential evaluation is an expert analysis that evaluates your foreign degree or diploma and determines its American or Canadian academic equivalent. Because the USA and Canada do not have a centralized national ministry of education, universities, state licensing boards, and employers rely on independent credential auditors to verify international degrees. This is a crucial step in the documentation process, and it must be performed by certified evaluation experts.
5. Am I qualified to be a J-1 teacher?
You are eligible if you meet the following requirements:
Qualifications: Meet the standards for teaching in primary or secondary schools in your country of nationality or last legal residence.
Current Employment: Be working as a teacher in your home country at the time of application.
Alternative: If not currently teaching, you must have recently (within the last 12 months) completed an advanced degree and possess at least two years of full-time teaching experience within the past eight years.
Education: Hold a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree in either education or the specific academic subject field you intend to teach.
Experience: Have a minimum of two years (24 months) of full-time teaching or related professional experience.
State Standards: Satisfy the specific teaching standards of the U.S. state where you will be placed.
Character: Be of good reputation and character.
Purpose: Seek to enter the U.S. for full-time teaching as a teacher of record at an accredited primary (including pre-K language immersion) or secondary school.
Language: Possess sufficient proficiency in the English language.
6. Are teachers allowed to travel or return home throughout the program?
Yes. Teachers are free to travel and explore the USA during school vacations, and you may return home during longer summer breaks or as necessary.
⚠️ Crucial Step: Before traveling outside of the United States, your Form DS-2019 must be signed in the lower right-hand corner for "travel authorization" by your program sponsor.
7. I am married and my spouse is also a teacher. Should we both enter the USA as J-1 teachers or should one of us come as a J-2 dependent?
Both scenarios are completely possible:
Dual J-1: Both spouses apply, qualify, and work full-time as teachers.
J-1 and J-2 Dependent: One spouse acts as the primary visa holder. Note that a J-2 dependent cannot work immediately upon arrival; they must first apply for and receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), a process that can take up to 12 weeks.
8. Can I bring my spouse and children to the USA?
Yes. However, you should check with your host school first to address any questions regarding your family's arrival. Many teachers choose to travel to the U.S. alone first to secure an apartment, set up their household, and adapt to their new teaching environment before their family joins them.
9. What is the "Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement"?
Some J-1 exchange visitors are subject to a requirement that they return to their home country (or country of last legal permanent residence) for at least two years upon completion of their program.
Impact: If subject to this rule, you are ineligible for certain U.S. visa categories (such as H-1B temporary work visas, L-1 intracompany transferee visas, or Lawful Permanent Residence/Green Cards) until you have fulfilled the two-year requirement or obtained a waiver.
Exceptions: This requirement does not prevent you from returning to the U.S. in other visa categories, such as a tourist (B-1/B-2) or student (F-1) visa, provided you meet the requirements for those entries.
Determining Subjectivity: You may be subject to this rule if your program was financed by the U.S. government or your home government, or if your field of specialization is on your home country’s "Skills List".
10. Are there specific cross-cultural requirements for J-1 teachers?
Yes. To fulfill the mission of the Exchange Visitor Program, all J-1 teachers must complete cross-cultural activities annually.
Activity Scope: These activities are designed for your classroom, the host school, or the community at large to share an aspect of your home country’s culture.
Host Responsibility: Your host school or district is required to assist in involving you in these school and community cultural activities.
11. What is the purpose of the DS-2019 form and who issues it?
The Form DS-2019, or "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status," is the mandatory document required to apply for a J-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Issuer: Only designated program sponsors authorized by the U.S. Department of State may issue this form.
Function: The form identifies you and your sponsor and describes your program, which is essential for registration in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
12. What happens if my J-1 program ends?
Upon completion of your exchange program, you are expected to return home to share your experiences and knowledge of the U.S. educational system.
Grace Period: You are allowed a 30-day grace period after the end date listed on your DS-2019 to depart the United States.
13. Can I change my visa status while in the United States?
If you are subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement, you are generally not eligible for an in-country change of status to most other nonimmigrant categories or permanent residence. You should contact the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for guidance regarding your specific situation.
For further official details, you can visit the U.S. Department of State BridgeUSA website.
This video provides a step-by-step guide to the J-1 Teacher Visa process, including application requirements, interview tips, and what to expect before and after arrival in the U.S.