Teacher Exchange Fees
| TYPE OF FEE | RANGE (USD) | TO CONSIDER |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Exchange Full Placement First Time Program Fee Paid in Full Before Starting Program | $3,750 | $300 – Non-refundable Administration fee, paid after eligibility verification and pre-screening interview are completed $3450 – Program Fee – Paid after acceptance by a school and before starting a visa process |
| Teacher Exchange Full Placement First Time Program Fee With Payment Plan | $4,000 | $300 – Non-refundable Administration fee, paid after eligibility verification and pre-screening interview are completed $700 – Partial Program Fee – Paid after acceptance by a school and before starting a visa process $3000 – Payment Plan in monthly installments, paid while on the program |
| Teacher Exchange with Overseas Agency First Time Program Fee | $4,000-$11,000 | Program Fee if you decide to apply through a local agency. Costs vary by partner and depend on what items the teacher includes in partner services* |
| Foreign Credential Evaluation | $200 – $400 | Amount depends on number of transcripts evaluated and service provider chosen by teacher. |
| SEVIS Fee | $220 | Paid to the Department of Homeland Security |
| Visa Appointment Fee | $185 | Paid to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your Home Country |
| International Flights | $800 – $2,000 | Varies greatly depending on port of departure and entry |
| Initial Expense Fund | $3,000 | Please bring funds to cover your first month(s) of expenses prior to receiving a paycheck. This amount does not include housing costs. |
We’ve summarized and grouped the amounts below for you to be fully informed, but please be aware that these are based on averages and might be subject to change due to several variables.
*Teachers are not required to enroll through a third-party agency to participate. For a list of our current overseas partner agencies, please click here.
Program Associated Fees Fees to be paid to Alliance Abroad for changes or additions to your program.
| TYPE OF FEE | RANGE (USD) | TO CONSIDER |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Program Support Fee | $59 | Collected monthly for duration of the program. |
| Annual Renewal Fee | $1,500 | Paid to Alliance Abroad in the spring of each year for the following school year. |
| Transfer Fee | $750 | Due if approved to change host school placements after arrival |
| Extension Fee for 4th, 5th year | $567 | Paid directly to the U.S. Department of State |
| J-2 Dependent Fee | $750 + $20 per month for program support | Per dependent. Must be spouse or child under 21 years of age. |
| Initial Insurance for J-2 Dependent | $270 | Dependent insurance for the first 90 days J-2 is in country. Dependent will need to be added to teacher’s insurance policy following the initial 90 days. |
| TYPE OF FEE | RANGE (USD) | TO CONSIDER |
|---|---|---|
| State Certification/Licensure | Estimated range of $70 – $170 | Amount depends on the state; please check your state’s Department of Education website |
| State Licensure Exams | Estimated range of $60-$250 | Costs of state licensure exams vary greatly depending on state and subject matter and may not be required in all states |
| Criminal Background Check | $60 – $160 | Varies by location |
| TYPE OF FEE | RANGE (USD) | TO CONSIDER |
|---|---|---|
| School Insurance | May opt-in per school policy | We encourage teachers to enroll in school plans, which are more comprehensive than emergency coverage. Cost varies greatly depending on which school plan you choose and whether you have family joining you. Teachers should budget a minimum of $150-$300/month for school’s insurance policy. |
| Optional Insurance (If necessary) | $29.90-$49.90/month | Teachers may opt to pay monthly for AAG recommended plan that meets program regulations. http://dianins.com/scholar-plan |
| Federal and State Income Tax | Average of 10 – 15% of gross pay | Not all states have a state income tax. We recommend checking here: Paycheck Calculator |
| FICA, FUTA | Average 8% of Salary | Teachers on the J-1 visa program are typically subject to FICA and FUCA taxes after the first two tax calendar years in the US. In most cases, these payments will begin January 1 of your second year on program. Please note that a teacher will need to begin paying these taxes right away if the teacher was in the US previously on an F, J, M, or Q visa. |
| Retirement Benefits | 0-8.25% | Your host school may allow or require participation in their investment program for retirement. Please check your job offer and speak with your school principal during the interview about these details. |
| Union Fees (if applicable) | Average annual cost of $400 | Your offer letter will include whether or not union membership and thus dues are required as well as confirm the cost. |
| TYPE OF FEE | RANGE (USD) | TO CONSIDER |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $800 – $2,500 per month | Factors include city, house or apartment, # of bedrooms, # of people sharing accommodation |
| Transportation | $250 – $500 | Factors include bus or car transportation, gas, car payment |
| Food & Groceries | $750 – $1,000 | Based on grocery budget |
| Childcare (Age 0 – 5) | Avg. $700 per month | Full-time daycare can be very expensive. It can vary greatly depending on location,https://www.epi.org/child-care-costs-in-the-united-states/#/TX |
| After school care (Age 5 – 12) | Avg. $174 – $261 per week | Some schools offer after care for students at school until 6 pm. According to Care.com’s 2022 Cost of Care Survey, parents paid part-time, after-school sitters an average of $261 per week for one child. After-school sitters made an average of $17.40 per hour. https://www.care.com/c/how-much-to-charge-after-school-child-care/ |
| Utilities | Avg. of $400 per month for house | May be less if in an apartment. Includes electricity, air-conditioning, trash, water, etc. Please note that some cities require cash deposits for utilities in the absence of a credit file. |
| Cable and/or Internet | Avg. of $70 – $100 per month | Depends on the plan you select. |
| Phone | Avg. of $60 – $100 per month | There are many plan options to suit your needs and budget. |
| Entertainment | Avg. of $200 per month | Depends on what you like to do in your free time- sports tickets, events, movies, etc. |
Alliance Abroad has an agreement in place with these overseas partners.Please reach out to them to inquire about their services. Please note that all our partners may have different inclusions and optional extra services. It is very important that the pricing of all the fees is transparent. Please never accept a placement without a full written disclosure of a breakdown of fees; mandatory fees, required fees and optional fees.
| COUNTRY | PARTNER |
|---|---|
| Brazil | World Study Brazil |
| Colombia | Flipp Ciudadanos del Mundo SAS |
| Colombia | Minga House Foundation |
| Colombia | Student Travel Center |
| Dominican Republic | OFIT |
| India | Acclaim Global Education India, PVT LTD |
| Jamaica | Jobseekers International Placement Agency |
| Nigeria | Greenview Consulting |
| Philippines | Foreign Cultural Exchange Consultants, Inc (FCEC) |
| South Africa | OVC |
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