Documents You Need for J1 Visa for Teachers and How to Prepare Them

If you’re an international teacher planning to teach in the United States through the J1 Visa for Teachers, the documentation requirements can feel overwhelming. Once you know what’s needed and how to prepare each document properly, the process becomes much more manageable.

We’ll walk you through every document required for your J1 visa for teachers application, explain how to prepare them correctly, and help you avoid common mistakes that delay applications. Let’s get started! 

Core Documents for Your J1 Visa for Teachers Application

Let’s break down the essential documents you’ll need, starting with the most critical ones.

Your Passport

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay in the United States. Check your passport expiration date before moving forward with any other part of the application.

If your passport expires sooner than six months after your program end date, renew it now. Processing passport renewals can take weeks or even months in some countries. Don’t wait until the last minute. Make sure your passport has blank pages for visa stamps and entry documentation.

Keep several photocopies of your passport information page. You’ll need these for various forms and applications throughout the process.

Form DS-2019

The DS-2019 is the single most important document for your J1 visa for teachers application. It serves as your certificate of eligibility for exchange visitor status. Your designated sponsor organisation must issue it.

Your sponsor will create this document after accepting you into their program and entering your information into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). You must carry your Form DS-2019 to the U.S. port of entry. Present your passport, visa, and Form DS-2019 to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to seek entry into the United States.

The DS-2019 includes your SEVIS number, which begins with the letter “N” followed by a series of numbers. This number is critical for paying your SEVIS fee and scheduling your visa interview. Keep this document safe throughout your entire program because you’ll need it for re-entry if you travel outside the United States.

Educational Credentials and Academic Documents

Start with your university degree certificates. These must be official documents from your institution, not photocopies or informal letters. If your degrees are not in English, you’ll need certified translations. The translation must come from a professional translation service or a certified translator. 

Both the original document and the translation should be submitted together. Your official transcripts showing all courses completed and grades earned are equally important. Contact your university’s registrar’s office well in advance because obtaining official transcripts can take time. 

Many states require a foreign credential evaluation to verify that your international degrees meet U.S. educational standards. The National Association for Credential Evaluation Services provides a list of recognized evaluation companies. Budget around $100 or more for this service. Allow several weeks for processing.

Teaching Certification and Professional Credentials

Submit copies of your teaching license or certification from your home country. Include any subject-specific certifications you hold, especially if you’ll be teaching specialized subjects like mathematics, science, or foreign languages.

Your professional teaching documents should include letters of employment from previous schools showing your teaching experience, detailed job descriptions that outline subjects taught and grade levels, performance evaluations or references from supervisors, and any professional development certificates or training completions.

If you’ve taught English as a Foreign Language or have specialized in bilingual education, include those certifications as well. 

English Language Proficiency Documentation

Teaching in American schools requires demonstrating English proficiency through TOEFL or IELTS scores if applicable. Different sponsors and states may have varying minimum score requirements. Check with your specific program.

Even if you’re a native English speaker or completed your education in English, some sponsors may still request official documentation of your language abilities. 

For non-native English speakers, plan to take the TOEFL or IELTS well in advance of your application. These tests require registration weeks ahead of time. You may want the opportunity to retake the exam if your first scores don’t meet requirements.

Form DS-160

It is the online visa application form required for any person seeking to travel temporarily to the United States. Form DS-160 collects detailed information about your background, travel plans, and purpose of visit. So, complete the DS-160 carefully and accurately. The form saves automatically, but you’ll receive a confirmation number that you must keep safe. You cannot retrieve your application without this number.

Key sections of the DS-160 include personal information matching your passport exactly, travel information including your intended date of entry, previous U.S. travel history if applicable, educational and work background, and security and background questions.

Related: What Is DS-160 Visa Application Form? How To Fill It Properly To Avoid Mistakes

Visa Photograph Requirements

Your visa photo must meet specific U.S. Department of State requirements. The photo must be recent (taken within the last six months), in color, with a white or off-white background, showing a full face view directly facing the camera.

Photo dimensions must be 2×2 inches (51×51 mm). Your head should measure between 1 and 1 3/8 inches (25 and 35 mm) from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head. Glasses are generally not permitted unless you wear them daily for medical reasons. Even then, they cannot have glare on the lenses.

Financial Documentation

Although your host school will provide your salary, you still need to demonstrate financial stability for your initial period in the United States. 

Acceptable financial documents include recent bank statements showing sufficient funds (typically covering at least one to three months of living expenses), sponsorship letters from family members if they’re providing financial support along with their bank statements, or scholarship or grant award letters if applicable.

Your sponsor should provide a written statement that clearly indicates the compensation package to be provided to the exchange visitor teacher and any other financial arrangements relevant to the program. 

Be realistic about costs. Research the cost of living in your host city. Ensure your documented funds reflect actual expenses you’ll face.

State-Specific Teaching Requirements

Beyond federal visa requirements, each U.S. state has its own teaching certification and licensing requirements that affect your documentation needs.

Teaching License Applications

Most states require J1 teachers to obtain some form of teaching license or temporary certificate before beginning work. Requirements vary significantly by state. Some offer streamlined processes for exchange teachers, while others require more extensive documentation.

Research your host state’s Department of Education website for specific requirements. Some states offer temporary or emergency certifications specifically designed for exchange visitors. Others require you to meet the same standards as domestic teachers.

Licensing Examinations

Many states require teachers to pass standardized tests demonstrating subject knowledge and teaching skills. Common examinations include the Praxis series, which costs approximately $64 to $150 per test, or the National Evaluation Series, which ranges from $50 to $125 per test.

Your host state will specify which exams you need based on the subjects and grade levels you’ll teach. Some states waive certain exam requirements for experienced international teachers. Ask your sponsor about possible exemptions.

Criminal Background Checks and Fingerprinting

Working with children requires thorough background screening. Expect to undergo criminal background checks in your home country and possibly in the United States as well.

The FBI and state agencies require fingerprinting, which typically costs $50 to $75, depending on your state. Some states accept electronic fingerprinting, while others still use ink cards. Your sponsor or host school will provide guidance on their specific requirements.

If you have any criminal history, even minor offenses, disclose this upfront. Failure to disclose can result in visa denial or program termination. Many minor offenses won’t disqualify you, but dishonesty always will.

Related: How To Become A Successful International Teacher in the US

Additional Documentation for Your Interview

Beyond the core documents, bring supporting materials to your visa interview that strengthen your application and demonstrate your ties to your home country.

Employment and Home Ties Documentation

The visa officer needs confidence that you intend to return home after your program ends. Strong evidence of home ties includes:

• Property ownership documents or rental agreements showing your housing situation
• Family ties, such as marriage certificates or birth certificates of children
• Employment letters from your current school indicating leave approval and a guaranteed position upon return
• Membership in professional organizations in your home country

These documents aren’t always required, but they significantly strengthen your case by showing your established life in your home country.

Host School Documentation

Bring your employment contract or offer letter from your U.S. host school, detailing your teaching position, subject areas, grade levels, start date, salary, and program duration.

Include any correspondence with your host school that demonstrates the legitimate nature of your position. Letters from school administrators, department heads, or human resources personnel add credibility to your application.

Travel Itinerary and Accommodation Plans

While not required at the interview stage, having tentative travel plans shows you’re organized and serious about your program. If you’ve researched housing options near your host school, bring that documentation as well.

You don’t need to purchase plane tickets before receiving your visa. Having a general timeframe for travel demonstrates your preparedness.

How to Organize Your Documents

Proper organization makes the application process smoother and shows professionalism to visa officers and school administrators.

Create a master file with both physical and digital copies of every document. Use clear labels and organize documents chronologically or by category. Keep original documents in protective sleeves to prevent damage.

Your digital backup should include high-resolution scans of all documents stored in multiple locations, like cloud storage, an external hard drive, and email attachments to yourself. 

Bring organized document folders to your visa interview with documents arranged in the order you’ll likely need them. Put your passport, DS-2019, DS-160 confirmation page, and SEVIS fee receipt on top for easy access.

Timeline for Document Preparation

Understanding how long document preparation takes helps you plan effectively and avoid last-minute stress.

Start your document collection at least four to six months before your intended teaching start date. Some documents require weeks or months to obtain. Foreign credential evaluations, official transcripts from universities, and state teaching license applications take particularly long.

Your sponsor needs time to process your information and issue your DS-2019. After receiving this form, you must pay the SEVIS fee before scheduling your visa interview. Embassy interview appointments can be scheduled weeks or months in advance, depending on location and time of year.

Breaking down the timeline, allow two to four weeks for collecting academic credentials and teaching certifications, four to six weeks for foreign credential evaluation if required, two to three weeks for English proficiency test scores, and one to two weeks for visa photographs and document translations.

Factor in additional time for state-specific requirements like licensing exams and background checks, which vary widely by location.

Working With J1 Visa Exchanges

Organizations like J1 Visa Exchanges streamline the documentation process through their decades of experience with international teacher programs. As a designated sponsor, we provide dedicated account managers who guide you through each documentation requirement.

The application process often achieves processing within 48 hours once all documents are submitted. We understand the complexity of gathering international documents and can provide specific guidance based on your home country and host state requirements.

The initial processing and academic fee of $1,500 covers comprehensive document review and SEVIS registration support. Our experienced team catches potential documentation issues early, saving you time and reducing the risk of delays.

Visit our site or contact us to learn more about our J-1 Teacher Program!