J-1 Teacher Program
About the program
The J-1 Teacher program allows you to teach full-time in accredited public and private U.S. primary and secondary schools for up to three years. The objective is for exchange teachers to sharpen their professional skills and participate in cross-cultural activities in schools and communities. They return home after completing the program.
Note: Our program cannot be used as a substitute for ordinary employment or work purposes and it cannot displace American workers.
General Expenses
When participating in J1X’s Teacher program, you should expect the following general expenses:
Initial Sponsor Fees
- Processing & Academic Fee: $1500
- SEVIS Fee: $220
- Program and Insurance Fee: $90 per month, 3 months due up front and remainder billed monthly.
- (Optional) J-2 Processing Fee: $695 per J-2 dependent.
- (Optional) J-2 program and insurance Fee: $135 per month, 3 months due up front and remainder billed monthly.
*J1X highly encourages exchange teachers to be established and settled before bringing dependents to the U.S.
Reoccurring Fees:
- Annual Academic Fee: $1500 due May 15th
- *Monthly program and insurance Fee: $90 per month, due the 1st of the month.
- *Monthly J-2 program and insurance Fee: $135 per month, due the 1st of the month.
*Exchange teachers will receive an option to supplement their host school insurance policy for a lower tier repatriation and medical evacuation policy through J1X, which will lower fees substantially.
Other J1X Fees:
- Transfer Host School Fee: $695
- Travel Validation: $75 *valid for 12 months
- Extension Beyond Maximum Duration: Annual Academic Fee + $367 Department of State Fee.
Third Party Agent Fees
J1X has limited our third-party agents within our program.
On average, an exchange participant can expect to pay $2000 - $2500 towards placement fees to an agent identifying host schools. Separately, agents can provide additional services towards Foreign Credential Evaluations, temporary housing accommodations, airfare, interview preparation, licensing and more. These fees can add up resulting in unexpected and exorbitant costs exceeding $5000.
J1X highly encourages exchange teachers interested in working with an agent to review their fees before signing any agreement to weigh pros and cons before proceeding with any agent agreement.
In-Program Expenses
When participating in J1X's Teacher program, you should expect the following expenses:
Estimated Work Relates Deductions
Exchange teachers can expect some work-related deductions during their exchange program. Here is a list of expected deductions:
Taxes: Exchange teachers can expect to pay between 20%– 30% of their salary, on average, depending on their federal and state tax forms.
- Local, State and Federal Taxes: 15% - 20% per pay period (Some cities do not have a Local tax)
- FUTA/FICA Taxes: 7% - 10%
Estimated Teaching Related Expenses
- Criminal Background Check/ Fingerprinting requirements: ~$50 - $75 (dependent on state-by-state requirements)
- Foreign Credential Evaluations: ~100+ (dependent on company and country of evaluation)
- Teacher Licensing/Certification: ~$75 - $100 (dependent on state)
- Translation Fees: ~$100+ (estimation is dependent on services)
Opt-In Deductions/Benefits
- *Dental, Medical, Vision plans: ~$50 - $100+ per pay period. Medical coverage may be available through your host school and/or school district. While it does not preclude exchange teachers from their mandatory obligations with maintaining insurance, it does allow for exchange teachers to qualify for monthly reduced rates. Some schools and school districts provide free medical benefits for exchange teachers.
- Union Dues: Union dues vary by state; however, the average exchange teacher can estimate between ~$400 to ~$1000 for union dues. States such as California can be estimated at ~$1000 a year, whereas states such as Arkansas and Texas are lower estimating around ~$400 a year.
- Retirement Benefits: Estimate ~1% - 3%, depending on chosen contributions. Host schools and host school districts may have and/or require exchange teachers to opt into a retirement plan. We encourage exchange teachers to connect with their contacts to learn more about these options and determine which plan is the best for you. You can read more about retirement plans related to teachers here: https://www.sec.gov/teachers-guide/planning-for-retirement.
General Monthly Expenses
Cost of living will vary by city and state, the following is an estimate to help teacher populations better understand their financial obligations before participation.
Rent – ~ $1500 per month for a 1-bedroom unfurnished apartment
Utilities - ~150 per month (water, gas, electric, trash, sewer) *estimated for a 1-bedroom apartment
Internet - ~$50 per month for a base internet plan through a local ISP
Telephone - ~$50 per month for a base phone plan without a service contact.
Transportation - ~$100+ or ~$200 per month (public transportation or gasoline cost/maintenance)
Childcare – ~$1000+ per month for full-time, full-day care per dependent. (varies by city)
*Discretionary Spending - ~150 – 200 per month
*Discretionary spending is a term used to describe non-essential expenses such as recreation, entertainment, or expenses used for luxury goods and/or travel. J1X encourages exchange teachers to understand the differences between what a necessary purchase is vs. a discretionary purchase.
Example: Transportation to and from a host school averages $100 towards public transportation, or $200 per month for insurance and gas on a purchased vehicle. Purchasing a $5000 vehicle at the beginning of the program is different than leasing a $40,000 vehicle with a monthly lease of $500+ per month. One will incur a substantially larger financial impact.