The Exchange Visitor program implements the federal Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (the "Act"). The Exchange Visitor program — Teacher category promotes the interchange of U.S. and foreign teachers.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is one of many approved sponsors participating in this program and, like many sponsors, only sponsors exchange visitors from countries with which it has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The Department currently has MOUs with the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport and the Camões, Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua, I.P. Through these partnerships, licensed teachers from Spain and Portugal who meet the eligibility criteria can come to the United States on a J visa and teach as a full-time teacher of record in a Massachusetts accredited public or private primary or secondary school (pre-K–12) for up to three years, with a onetime option of extending the program for the maximum of an additional 1–2 years.
If you are an educator from another country seeking to take part in this Exchange Visitor program, you may be able to find another approved sponsor for the Teacher category who may be able to sponsor you within their program. A list of approved sponsors can be found at: Teacher Program at BridgeUSA.
Program Fees:
Cost of Living:
Mandatory Health Insurance Requirement: Exchange teachers must maintain the following level of insurance coverage for themselves and their dependents at the start of their program — entry into the United States / program validation.
Accompanying spouses and dependents are required to be covered by insurance in the amounts set forth above. Exchange visitors will be notified of this requirement, in writing, in advance of the exchange visitor's arrival in the United States.
Exchange visitors who willfully fail to maintain the insurance coverage set forth above while a participant in an exchange visitor program or who make material misrepresentations to the sponsor concerning such coverage will be deemed to be in violation of these regulations and will be subject to termination as an exchange visitor.
Health insurance costs: Educators may contact their host school for list of health insurance plans offered and related costs.
Exchange teachers are typically offered insurance via payroll deduction at their host school, but this coverage may not be in effect until weeks after the program start date.
Expected Work Related DeductionsThis varies by school district and will be provided to the exchange teacher by their host school/school district at the time that the exchange visitor is accepted into the program and prior to the exchange teacher signing their contract. Estimated work-related deductions can include but may not be limited to:
There is a limit on the number of years a J-1 alien can be considered an "exempt individual" student, teacher, or trainee and exclude U.S. days of presence for purposes of the Substantial Presence Test.
Teacher or trainee — two calendar year rule: Generally, a J-1 alien cannot exclude U.S. day of presence as a "teacher or trainee" for more than two calendar years. (ex. Arrived fall 2024 – Dec. 30, 2024, = 1st calendar year; Jan 1, 2025–Dec 30, 2025, = 2nd calendar year)
Once a J-1 alien become a Resident Alien under the Substantial Presence Test they are eligible for FICA tax beginning on January 1 of the calendar year they become a resident alien. (which typically occurs 183 days into the third calendar year they are teaching making them a Resident Alien all of their 3rd calendar year).
Please note: If a J-1 alien excludes days of presence in the U.S. for purposes of the substantial presence test because they were exempt they must include Form 8843, Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals With a Medical Condition, with their income tax return.
If they do not timely file Form 8843, they cannot exclude the days they were present in the U.S. as an exempt individual or because of a medical condition that arose while they were in the U.S. This does not apply if they can show, by clear and convincing evidence that they took reasonable actions to become aware of the filing requirements and significant steps to comply with those requirements.
What to do if the tax is withheld: If a J-1 alien falls into the category of employees who are exempt from Social Security and Medicare tax, he or she may file Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement and Form 8316, Information Regarding Request for Refund of Social Security Tax Erroneously Withheld on Wages Received by a Nonresident Alien on an F, J, or M Type Visa to obtain a refund.
Massachusetts Educator License Exemption: Traditional PreK–12 public school visiting teachers on J-1 visas are exempt from having to obtain a Massachusetts educator license or endorsement(s); however, exchange teachers employed by a Charter School are subject to Charter School Regulations and may be required to obtain a MA license, endorsement, and/or pass a Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure to be legally employed. Please note that even if an exchange visitor is exempt from obtaining an educator licensure / endorsement by the state, a hiring school district may require an exchange teacher to hold a MA educator license or obtain the SEI or Bilingual Education endorsement. Spouses on a J-2 visa who obtain a work permit and are employed as a public-school teacher, are not exempt from the licensure requirements.
Licensure and testing fees:
Exchange Visitor Program Application
Exchange Visitor Handbook
Exchange Visitor Orientation Guide
Exchange Visitor Annual Cross-cultural Activity Report
Exchange Visitor Program Extension Application
Driver's License and Social Security Brochure
Brochure — The Exchange Visitor Program
William Wilberforce Brochure
Internal Revenue Services — International Taxpayers
Massachusetts Department of Revenue
Exchange Visitors Rights and Protection
Last Updated: December 12, 2024