Have any questions? Contact Us
Review the Visas Requirements for Visiting Teachers from Spain.
J-1 Visa Program
The Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work-and study-based exchange visitor programs. Participants are integral to the success of the program.
Foreign teachers have the opportunity to teach in accredited primary and secondary schools in the United States.
The Exchange Visitor Program fosters global understanding through educational and cultural exchanges. All exchange visitors are expected to return to their home country upon completion of their program in order to share their exchange experiences.
A cross cultural activity is defined as an activity designed to promote exposure and interchange between exchange visitors and Americans so as to increase their mutual understanding of each other’s society, culture, and institutions.
During each academic year, the J-1 teacher is required to complete at least one cross-cultural activity from each of the following categories:
An activity for the teacher's classroom, larger host school or host school district population, or the community at large designed to give an overview of the history, traditions, heritage, culture, economy, educational system and/or other attributes of his or her home country. Sponsors of exchange teachers placed at international schools must require their exchange teachers to conduct at least one cross-cultural activity per academic year outside the host school in nearby schools or communities where international opportunities may be more limited than those found in their host school.
An activity that involves U.S. student dialogue with schools or students in another country, preferably in the exchange teacher's home school, through virtual exchange or other means, in order to supplement the goals of the in-person exchange
Teachers will be required to submit annual reports describing the cross-cultural activities performed to the J-1 program director. Support staff at each ILTexas school will assist J-1 teachers in fulfilling the cross-cultural component.
Applicants will be responsible for the following fees:
Applicants will be responsible for the following costs and expenses:
All J-1 teachers will need a health insurance that covers the following concepts:
The J-2 Visa is a non-immigrant visa issued by a consular official at a U.S. embassy or consulate for spouses and dependents (unmarried children under the age of 21) of J-1 exchange visitors who accompany or later join the J-1 holder in the United States.
The application procedure is the same as that for a primary visa applicant. The sponsor must approve the accompaniment of the spouse and/or children who will each be issued their own Form DS-2019.
J-2 visa holders are eligible to apply for employment authorization through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) upon arrival in the United States. J-2 visa holders cannot work until they receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The wait time for an EAD application to be approved is typically two to three months. Once approved, J-2 visa holders can obtain a social security card. The EAD will have an expiration date. In order to continue working, dependents must renew their EAD card before this date.