Grow Your Teaching Career With Us
Take your personal and professional development to the next level by teaching in the United States. Through the International Alliance Group (IAG) you can teach at an accredited school and learn more about life in the U.S. We support our teachers from the moment you start your application through to the end of your exchange program with us.
General Program Information
The J-1 Teacher Exchange Visitor Program was established by the United States Department of State to promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries through educational and cultural exchanges. This program plays an essential role in advancing the foreign policy objectives of the United States.
Our program offers qualified teachers from around the world the opportunity to participate in a three-year cultural exchange program in the United States. Selected teachers will immerse themselves in an English-speaking environment and gain a deeper understanding of U.S. culture by working and interacting daily with its people.
Host schools in the United States benefit greatly from hosting IAG teachers. They gain access to the rich cultural heritage brought by these teachers while exposing U.S. educators to new ideas and professional techniques shared by the exchange participants.
IAG Partners with Universities and Ministries of Education:
- Government
- Ministry of Education in Guatemala
- Secretaría de Educación y Cultura (SEC) in Sonora, Mexico
- Instituto de Educación in Aguascalientes, Mexico
- Secretary of Education in Nuevo León, Mexico
- Secretary of Education in Baja California, Mexico
- Secretary of Education and Sports in Chihuahua, Mexico
- Universities:
- UABC Baja California, Mexico
- IPN in El Salvador
- University of Sonora, Mexico
- Código Azul, Colima, Mexico
We strongly encourage you to work directly with IAG and refrain from paying fees to any third-party recruitment or placement agency in your home country or in the United States. If you are already registered with such an agency, it is important to disclose the fees paid and provide IAG with a copy of the agreement signed between you and the agency.
Participating teachers are required to complete at least two cross-cultural activities per year. These activities must include one from each of the following categories:
Classroom, Host School, or Community Activity:
An activity designed to provide an overview of the teacher’s culture from their home country. This may include, but is not limited to, topics such as history, traditions, heritage, economy, and the educational system. Teachers placed in international schools must conduct at least one cross-cultural activity per academic year in nearby schools or communities.Dialogue Activity:
An activity that fosters dialogue between U.S. students and students in another country, preferably from the teacher’s home school.
For more information on the cross-cultural activity requirements, refer to the [Cross Cultural Competencies PDF].
IAG program fees are covered by cooperating host school districts’ program fees. These fees cover IAG administrative costs for screening, orientation, and supervising participants, as well as the participant’s supplementary medical insurance (from departure from the home country to when you transfer to your school’s medical insurance coverage, including repatriation and evacuation coverage throughout your program).
Beyond the program fees paid by the host school, IAG will not charge participants any additional program fees, except for collecting and paying direct costs on behalf of the applicant.
The exact cost of living may vary depending on the location of the teaching assignment. More specific information for each area is available in the FAQ section and in the IAG Handbook, provided to all program participants upon acceptance.
Costs that participants may incur while in the United States include:
- U.S. Government fees:
- Visa application fee: $185
- SEVIS fee: $220
- Union fees: Typically range from $100 to $500 per year, depending on the location and membership status. Participation in the union is optional, allowing individuals to decide whether to join.
- Retirement benefits: $50–$100 (options vary by individual). Participants can choose how much they wish to contribute to their private retirement plan.
- Childcare expenses: $150–$250 per week for full-time care. (Varies by state and participant.)
- Licensure exams: $100–$300, depending on location and participant.
- Foreign credential evaluation fees: Estimated at $250. AZICE is recommended for transcript evaluation if seeking employment in Arizona or Texas. For other states, IAG recommends:
- SpanTran Application: $190 (International Alliance Group fee).
- WES Evaluation: $225 (recommended for California).
- Teaching requirements: Background check, teaching certification, fingerprinting, etc., estimated at $200. IAG may collect these fees from you to pay on your behalf and guide you through the necessary processes.
- Travel to host school: Airfare or bus to the U.S. host school (varies by participant).
- Housing: Rent, housing deposits, utilities (varies by location and participant).
- Transportation: (Varies by location and participant.)
- Personal expenses: Mobile phone, travel, savings, and entertainment.
- Medical insurance premiums or out-of-pocket expenses: Not covered by the medical insurance policy (insurance is included in the IAG program). “See the FAQ on insurance for details.”
- Taxes: Estimated at 10% for federal taxes, 3–4.4% for state taxes (varies by state), and 7.65% for FICA.
- Food: (Varies by location and participant.)
- J-2 spouse/dependent visa fees: $500 for one J-2 visa and $250 for any additional J-2 visas. The J-1 participant will be responsible for J-2 insurance enrollment and associated costs.
*See budget exercise for estimates/ranges for these costs: Sample Budget Exercise
Are there foreign or domestic third-party or partner fees?
IAG partners, including universities and foreign departments of education, have committed to not charging applicants fees for their referral services. If any third party attempts to charge additional fees for the IAG program, please contact an IAG team member for support. IAG does not partner with any third-party recruitment or placement agencies in the administration of its J-1 Exchange Teacher program. Therefore, we encourage participants to work directly with IAG and avoid paying fees to any third-party recruitment or placement agency in their home country or the U.S. If you have already registered with such an agency, it is important to disclose the fees paid and provide IAG with a copy of the agreement signed between you and the agency.
Possess a valid passport from your home country
If your passport expires within three years, renewal will be necessary.Hold a valid teaching license or credentials from your home country
Official certification or documentation from your home country’s Department of Education is required.Have an education degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. degree
A degree earned at an accredited institution is required, and an approved Foreign Credential Evaluation (FCE) must be completed (*see details below).Provide a current resume/CV in English
This document should detail your credential areas, teaching experience, relevant skills/work experience, and any previous international work or travel experience.Demonstrate at least two years of professional teaching experience
Applicants must provide a signed and dated letter from a school administrator, written in English on official letterhead, verifying their current full-time teaching position.Exhibit excellent proficiency in spoken and written English
Applicants must submit valid results from an approved standardized English proficiency test taken within the past two years. Accepted tests include:- CBEST (official)
- TOEFL
- ACTFL
- EF SET + ITEP Conversation Test (both tests required)
- EF SET + English Language Level Test (administered by International House, free and online – links below):
IH English Language Level Test
EF SET
Complete a Foreign Credential Evaluation (FCE)
An FCE is mandatory to apply. If you don’t already have one, you must obtain it before submitting your application. FCEs are valid for five years, making them a worthwhile investment. Ensure all transcripts (bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D., etc.) are submitted for evaluation.
If you have any questions about these requirements, please contact us at [email protected].
TheIAGExperience
What our teachers say about IAG
The J1 Visa Program gave me this opportunity to develop my profesional career
This experience has broadened our perspectives and transformed us, not only as educators but as a family.
I feel so happy, I feel so comfortable, and I really feel fulfilled with my career. I am doing something very positive for my professional development.
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