If your school needs a World Languages teacher next year, or if you are looking to internationalize your faculty, the following organizations are approved by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) to sponsor educators to work in Kentucky on J-1 visas.
Institute of International Education
HTP J-1 Visa Programs
International Expert Resources
Cordell Hull Foundation
HRC International
Global Teacher Exchange at the Sagamore Institute
While each of the sponsoring organizations has specific fees that districts should research, general J-1 program fees are listed below that exchange visitors need to be made aware of before committing to any position.
SEVIS and J-1 Visa Fees - Before exchange visitors can apply for a visa to enter the United States, they need to pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee, which is currently $220. The cost to apply for the required J-1 visa is $185 . There is an additional cost for each dependent's J-2 visa. Exchange Visitors also will have to pay for an international credential evaluation fee ($176-$220) required for securing a Kentucky teaching license. There is no fee for the one-year limited teacher certification.
Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) - FICA is a U.S. federal payroll tax. It is deducted from each paycheck. 7.65% will be deducted from wages for FICA with 6.2% going to Social Security tax and 1.45% to Medicare tax.
Optional Fees - Exchange visitors can choose to join professional educator organizations in the state. Those fees range from $200-$618 a year. There is no requirement to join a professional organization or union.
Third-Party Organizations-The following third-party organizations support in the recruitment of international exchange teachers:
- Ministry of Education of Spain (Spanish Visiting Teacher Program)
- Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services (Visiting Chinese Language Teachers from China Program)
- Ministry of Education of Taiwan/Taipei Economic and Cultural Office – (Visiting Chinese Language Teachers from Taiwan Program)
Please contact the world languages team with any questions.