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What is the CHF
Teacher Exchange Program?
The Cordell Hull
Foundation (CHF) is authorized by the U.S. Department of State to sponsor
exchange visitor J-1 visa applications from foreign national teachers for U.
S. private and public elementary and secondary schools. If the teacher and school
programs meet our requirements, CHF will consider establishing an exchange
visitor program with
the cooperation of the principal and/or school district. An individual
teacher may not apply to our program unless CHF has first set up an exchange
program with the school or school district, which must cover CHF sponsorship
costs.
What are the requirements for acceptance into the CHF Exchange
Visitor Teacher Program?
To be eligible
to participate in this program, foreign nationals must
(1) meet the
qualifications for teaching in primary or secondary schools in their
country of nationality or last legal residence,
(2) have a minimum of
three years of teaching or related professional experience, and
(3)
satisfy the standards of the US state in which they will teach.
(4)
Applicants must be proficient in the English language.
(5)
Teacher candidates must also be of good reputation and character, and seek
to enter the United States to
(6) teach full time.
The school, district or
state must set up a CHF J-1 visa teacher exchange program if there is not already an
existing one.
Schools must be primary or secondary accredited educational institutions
in the United States. School exemption from
certification does not apply in this case. The school, district or state must cover CHF sponsorship costs.
How do I apply for the CHF Teacher Exchange Program?
If the school, district
or state already has met the requirements and set up a J-1 exchange teacher
visitor program with the Cordell Hull Foundation ... a school may apply via
www.cordellhull.net - Click on
New Exchange Program application.
A nswer all questions on the 3-page Cordell Hull Foundation
application, insert a scanned passport photo and copy of teaching
certification or highest university degree from your home country. Click
 to
upload the CHF Teacher Application Form.
If a pop-up window appears, click on Cancel or press ESC on your keyboard. Save the file on your computer with your "lastname_CHFapp."
Write us a cover note in the body of your email (in English, French, or
Spanish) and attach the completed form after inserting a digital photo. If you are not successful in inserting your photo, send
it to:
pro@cordellhull.org
If it is
difficult and time-consuming for you to complete the application in English,
you may write in French and Spanish. The majority of CHF programs
are French and Spanish language-immersion schools that do not require the degree of fluency
in English needed to teach in English. These schools are staffed with
bilingual professionals. For all other languages, you must complete
the CHF teacher application in English.
How may I contact the
Cordell Hull Foundation to apply or to ask questions?
1. First read this page to learn about how the J-1 exchange visa
program works. Be aware that CHF is not an employment agency and does
not work with teachers independently. An exchange program must be
officially set up via written agreement with the school or district.
With all new programs starting January 2007, the school or district must
cover the expense of J-1 program sponsorship through the Cordell Hull
Foundation, not individual teachers.
2. Secondly, fill in our Teacher Exchange application:
3. You may complete the application in English, French or Spanish if
you prefer.
4. Read, sign and complete the Memorandum of Understanding.
Either mail it to our address below or fax to: 646-349-3455.
5. In your covernote to
pro@cordellhull.org, describe why you are
applying and sending the application.
6. General questions from teachers submitting unsolicited applications
are answered only after teachers first complete the CHF Teacher Application
form.
7. If you have been already received a tentative job offer pending
acceptance into the CHF Exchange Visitor Program, and the school or district
has already set up an exchange program through written agreement with the
Cordell Hull Foundation, you may write or call to ask questions about the
process.
May I request placement
in a particular state or region of the U.S.?
CHF is not a personnel placement firm. We do not charge recruitment
fees. Some J-1 visa-designated exchange organizations that operate for-profit
do actively recruit and represent individual teachers. CHF works with
school, school-district, and state administration. Teachers may find job opportunities by attending international job fairs in
the country or origin or
researching teacher personnel search firms on the Internet. If you
wish to target a certain city or region, and obtain a teaching job offer,
CHF will then consider setting up a teacher exchange program with the school
or district if it is near an existing one in that state or in a large city
there is an established exchange teacher program. In that event,
please have the school or district contact us directly. We do not
allow individual teachers to cover the costs of CHF exchange teacher
sponsorship.
See school requirements
below.
Where can I find out about other teachers' experiences?
See
Teacher Perspectives for
commentary from outstanding CHF J-1 exchange teacher visitors describing
their experiences in the U.S. under our sponsorship, in English, French and
Spanish.
- What
costs do teachers incur after being accepted into the Teacher Exchange
Program?
- Exchange teachers pay
airfare and usually cover consular processing fees at
the American Embassy abroad to obtain the J-1 visa passport stamp.
The two fees are:
-
(1) $131 Embassy entrance fee paid in advance at a bank or post office in
the home country. Note: This fee was raised on January 2008.
-
(2) Additional $100
"SEVIS" fee paid to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on the Internet or through 800 no. Click
here for Form I_901 instructions:
https://www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml
-
Note: During a possible 3-year J-1
exchange visa term, only pay the SEVIS fee once. J-2 dependents of the
teacher do NOT pay the SEVIS fee of $100.
In some countries,
such as France, teachers may incur a telephone fee of approximately $25 to make the visa
appointment. You may be asked to purchase a pre-paid courier
envelope (~$20)
to mail the passport back after consular review.
Other countries, such as India, tack on additional small fees. Be
sure to read the instructions on the website of the specific American
Embassy where you plan to apply.
What is the process
to get a J-1 Visa stamp in my passport?
The
Cordell Hull Foundation provides the necessary documents and instructions
for the exchange teacher candidate including a properly executed DS-2019
form. The teacher submits the application package to the nearest U.S.
Embassy in the country of origin for approval of J-1 Visa status. The
American Embassy charges two $100 fees - a total of $200 - to process the
visa. Each fee is paid separately.
See What
costs do teachers incur after being accepted into the Teacher Exchange
Program?
Applicants must make an appointment for an interview with a
consular officer. J-1 visa stamps cannot be obtained anywhere in the
United States, nor can you renew your J-1 visa inside the United States. Cordell Hull Foundation staff will consult with you for
more detailed information and advice regarding changing visa procedures and
policy in specific countries. Since the J-1 is a non-immigrant visa,
the burden of proving "non-intention to immigrate" falls upon the
teacher applicant. In countries where the preponderance of
non-immigrant visa applicants do not return to their home countries, that
burden of proof is heavier. Canadians are currently exempted from going to the
American Embassy for J-1 visa stamps but will lose that privilege in two
years. Most European and
Anglophone countries require only basic visa support documents from CHF and
the standard Embassy application forms. Consular Office (visa)
procedures and policies change frequently and without notice. If you
are accepted into our program, CHF will consult with you on an individual
basis, offering tips on how to navigate the ever-increasingly complicated
visa process.
What forms do I
fill out to take to the American Consular office to get my J-1
visa passport stamp?
Each applicant must complete
Form DS-156. Please use the following interactive electronic link to
complete it: https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp?lang=1
All applicants must complete
form
DS-158
Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant:
http://foia.state.gov/forms/visa/ds0158.pdf
Men aged 16-45 must also fill out the DS-157 form.
Both of these forms may be found in Acrobat Reader fill-in versions at the
following links: http://foia.state.gov/forms/visa/ds0157.pdf
"Fill-in" forms you can download on your computer in
pdf format, click in the blanks and complete the blanks on computer, then print and
sign the forms. You can sometimes save the form on your computer,
depending upon what programs are loaded on the hard drive.
You will need receipts for advance payment of the two visa fees to the
American Consulate and SEVIS. Check the
website of the American Embassy in your home country to download these
documents. CHF includes a letter of instruction when forwarding the
necessary backup paperwork to exchange teachers who are accepted into the
program. Read the specific procedure on the website and follow
the instructions. Additional documents may be requested for non-immigrant
visas in certain countries.
Are family members allowed to accompany me to the U.S.?
Some countries
approve "derivative" J-2 visas for immediate family members of the teacher.
If the J-2 visa holder is in correct status, s/he may apply for a work permit (EAD)
after arriving in the U.S. and applying for a social security number.
Form I-765 may be downloaded, fee paid by credit card and emailed directly
to the Internal Revenue service: http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/ead.htm#apply
CHF does not guarantee visas for dependent relatives nor work permits.
When requesting a work permit, the dependent must explain why the income is
not needed to support the family, only for the dependent's enhancement or to improve the family's overall standard of living.
The maximum number of dependents usually allowed is three: spouse and 2
children or 3 children. If an exchange visitor is requesting four or
more dependents, special procedures apply. The EV is not allowed four
dependents during the first year.
What is the purpose of the Teacher Exchange Program?
The purpose of
the Exchange Visitor Program, established by the Fulbright-Hayes Act of
1961, is to foster improvement of understanding between cultures through
international exchange. During the exchange tenure, teachers are expected to
broaden student understanding of their native cultures and languages,
and, in turn, acquire first-hand knowledge of the American way of life.
After spending 1-3 years in the U.S., the teacher returns to the home
country with improved English skills to share first-hand knowledge of
American culture.
What is a J-1
visa?
"J-1" is the non-immigrant visa category allowing The
Cordell Hull Foundation to bring exchange teacher visitors to work in the
United States on a temporary basis of one year, renewable each year up to
three years. The J-1 visa regulations strictly limit length of stay to
three years maximum for teachers. Although the Research Scholar
category of the J-1 visa was lengthened to five years in 2004, the Teacher
category limit remains at three years.
What is a J-1 sponsor?
The
Cordell Hull Foundation is a J-1 sponsor granted authority by the U.S.
Department of State to administer individual Exchange Teacher Visitor
programs. The Foundation must ensure that the teacher candidate meets the
requirements. As part of its responsibilities, the J-1 sponsor provides the exchange teacher
visitor with pre-arrival information, immigration instructions, orientation and monitors
the activities of the program participant.
What is a DS-2019 form?
The DS-2019 form
is a document issued by the Responsible Officer of CHF to the exchange
teacher, describing the period and terms of the proposed visit. This form is
a prerequisite for obtaining the J-1 visa passport stamp at a U.S. Consulate
abroad, preferably in the home country.
What are CHF's
guidelines and
requirements for schools?
Schools must pay CHF's administrative fee to sponsor your exchange visit
from 1-3 years on a J-1 teacher visa. If a school's policy is to stay
independent of the visa process, requiring teachers to have visas before they consider hiring you, and/or if
the teacher's positive exchange experience in the U.S.
is not a priority, the school or district would not qualify for J-1 visa
sponsorship by CHF. CHF's policy is to work directly with schools, not
through third-party representation, nor with a teacher independently. Third parties are most welcome to
contact us and refer CHF to schools in order to discuss setting up a teacher
exchange program.
Individual schools must be state-certified to qualify.
How can our school establish a J-1 Exchange Program?
First read this FAQ section to get answers to your questions. Then
fill out the New Program Application form on
www.cordellhull.net
You will receive an email response. CHF can
offer candidates from our database or work with applicants in whom you are
interested. A contract can include setting up customized recruiting arrangements
in specific countries using CHF multilingual staff and/or selection committees
in the foreign country. As a 501(c)(3)
non-profit corporation, CHF is not a personnel agency and do not seek jobs
for individual teachers. We do not charge a
percentage for teacher placement. A monitoring visit
is generally arranged at the school or district office to meet the staff
and/or exchange teacher(s) sponsored by CHF, preferably in advance of
setting up the exchange program.
Participating schools must be certified as educational institutions
at the elementary and/or secondary level. Day-care facilities are not
eligible for exchange visitor programs. Uncertified schools that are
exempt from state certification are ineligible for acceptance.
Are
teachers sponsored on a J-1 exchange visitor visa tax-exempt?
All
J-1 visaholders are exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes for at
least the first year and first semester of the second year.
Download p. 25
of IRS
Publication 515 verifying that J-1 visaholders are exempt from Social
Security and Medicare taxes. If you see a pop-up window
asking for a password, simply click on CANCEL.
Summary of Tax Treaties for J-1 visaholders:
If you see a pop-up window asking for a password, simply click on CANCEL.
TAX
Treaties
IRS TAX EXEMPTION
/ REFUND FORMS:
8233
8833
8843
8316
TAX instructions for UK Teachers:
If you see a pop-up window asking for a password, simply click on CANCEL.
Additional
tax-exemption information is offered at the CHF fall orientation sessions
for new J-1 exchange teachers. CHF does not guarantee tax advice, only
directs educators toward publications and forms that may be helpful.
What are the steps to obtain the J-visa paperwork and
instructions from the Cordell Hull Foundation after our school or school
district has established a working agreement with CHF?
The initial process for the teacher to
submit the required documents to CHF may differ or change
periodically. For a general summary click:
If you see a pop-up window asking for a password, simply click on CANCEL.
 J-1 visa initial application process
If you see a pop-up window asking for a password, simply click on CANCEL.
What are
the general steps for Canadians to obtain J-1 visas?
Click:
Canadians
Can my family members
obtain permission to work in the U.S.?
Yes. J-2 dependents are
allowed to work at any job, either part-time or full-time, but must first
apply for work authorization.
Click
here
for instructions on how to submit Form I-765 online:
Click on Electronic filing in the upper
right-hand corner to pay by credit card. The fee is $340,
effective August 1, 2007. J-2 spouses and children must obtain a work
permit before being eligible to apply for a US social security number.
You may process the form
electronically, pay by credit card, and monitor the progress of the process
online through the Case Status function on the
www.uscis.gov website.
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