Frequently Asked Questions

No, U.S. residents and/or green-card holders are not eligible to participate in the cultural exchange program.

Applicants must be full-time educators at the time of application. “Full-time” is considered to be at least 32 hours per week. An applicant who is both an educator and an administrator at the time of application must spend at least 32 hours per week instructing students, planning lessons, grading assignments, contacting students’ parents, and/or attending educator meetings.

If an educator has past experience as a full-time administrator, that experience cannot be counted towards their U.S. salary.

An applicant must be a full-time educator at the time of application, and they must be what is called a “teacher of record.” Being a “teacher of record” means that they are the lead educator in the room, and they are fully responsible for the academic progress of their students. An applicant who is a teacher assistant at the time of application is ineligible for the program. An applicant who is a “teacher of record” at the time of application but does not have at least two (2) full years of teaching experience as a “teacher of record” is also not eligible for the program.

Co-teachers are eligible for program participation because they are considered to be “teachers of record.” If Global needs clarification about whether an applicant is/was a teacher assistant versus a co-teacher, Global may seek permission to speak to the applicant’s past or present supervisor to gather additional information.

Global Teaching Partners requires all program participants to have a full and valid automobile driver’s license, as Global’s partner school districts may be located in areas with limited access to reliable public transportation. Global Educators must be fully independent in case of emergencies and for day-to-day living while in the U.S. Applicants must provide a copy of their valid automobile driver’s license from their country of residence during the application phase of the process.

Global Educators cannot be dependent on their spouse or other family members for transportation in the U.S. Please note that the following cannot be accepted: motorcycle licenses, learners’ permits, temporary licenses, and/or certificates of competency.

Specific parameters are used by our credential evaluation service to determine if degrees earned outside of the U.S. are equivalent to U.S. degrees.

Global Teaching Partners closely reviews applications and credentials to determine educators’ eligibility for the program, and, if the educator is hired by a U.S. school, Global will obtain an official credential evaluation for the educator to ensure that his/her degrees are sufficient.

No, Global does not recruit educators to teach preschool in the U.S. at this time.

No, Global Teaching Partners only provides J-1 Visa sponsorships to educators who have applied and been accepted into Global’s program prior to Global securing employment for them.

Visit our minimum requirement page to review the minimum requirements for the Global Educator Program.

Global Teaching Partners does not charge an application or a participation fee; however, those applying to Global’s program will most likely need to pay for a police background check, official transcripts (and translations of transcripts, if applicable) for a credential evaluation, and a U.S. visa in order to progress through the process. It may also be necessary for the Global Educator to reimburse Global Teaching Partners for costs associated with renewing their teaching license.

If an applicant receives a payment request from anyone stating that they work with Global Teaching Partners, it is imperative that NO FINANCIAL INFORMATION is provided to the sender. Rather, it is strongly suggested that this request be forwarded to Global at applicants@globalteachingpartners.com so that a Global team member can further investigate the situation.

While the exact salary amount varies from educator to educator, Global Educators are compensated on the same salary scale as other educators in their school districts. Compensation is determined by educators’ level of education, their teaching experience, and the policies of the district and state in which they teach.

No, Global Teaching Partners exclusively sponsors educators for the J-1 Cultural Exchange Visa, which is a temporary, non-immigration visa.

Occasionally,  Global receives an overwhelming number of applications from a particular region. When this happens, Global temporarily disables further applications in order to provide our Recruitment team with time to review the applications with the attention they deserve. If an applicant’s region is temporarily disabled, they are encouraged to check back in a few months to submit an application.

Yes, all Global Educators must purchase a car. Many of Global’s partner school districts are located in areas with limited access to reliable public transportation. Global Educators must be fully independent in case of emergencies and for day-to-day living while in the U.S. Global Educators cannot be dependent on their spouse or other family members for transportation in the U.S.

There are many aspects that factor into the length of Global Teaching Partners’ application process. Delays may occur if an applicant has to request certain documents (e.g. an official transcript from a university, a criminal background check from their local police station, etc).

Global evaluates the English proficiency of all applicants through interviews, which are conducted only in English. If there is a concern regarding an applicant’s level of English, additional questions may be asked to ensure that the applicant has strong proficiency in English to be successful in the program.

At this time, we do not allow applicants who were previously rejected to reapply to our program.

Reach out to us at applicants@globalteachingpartners.com to let us know about the error. We will evaluate your claim, and if it is applicable, we can restart your application.

Global Teaching Partners provides one-way airfare to Global Educators in their first year of the program. Additional travel to and from their home country will be at the Global Educator’s expense. Global Educators are responsible for all travel costs associated with their J-2 dependents’ flights.

Global Educators are offered benefits that are commensurate with their American counterparts. Visit the Salary, Fees, and Expenses page to learn more about health benefits.

No, Global Teaching Partners takes care of the teaching license process for Global Educators. Global Educators are asked to complete a teaching license application, and Global compiles all of the necessary documents and submits them to the licensing agency.

At this time, Global Teaching Partners primarily recruits educators for our partner school districts in North Carolina; however, Global Teaching Partners is also authorized to provide placements in South Carolina and Virginia.

Throughout the hiring process, Global considers candidates’ preferences; however, due to Global not knowing when and where employment opportunities will arise, those who are flexible regarding location are more likely to secure a teaching position.

Global Educators start teaching during the first semester of the school year, which is typically in July or August. Global Teaching Partners does not provide placement for educators at any other point in the school year.

If an educator is accepted into Global Teaching Partners’ candidate pool, the upcoming school year is their first year of eligibility for employment in the U.S. This does not mean that that candidate is guaranteed employment in the U.S.

Candidates who are not hired during their first year of eligibility are typically still considered for employment in subsequent school years.

Global Educators are hired on year-to-year contracts. While school districts desire to rehire all educators annually, continued employment is dependent upon the educator’s ability to teach successfully in the classroom in accordance with the requirements of the school district.

The terms of program participation are stated in detail in the Global Educator Agreement provided to all Global Educators prior to the start of their programs.

Because the J-1 Visa is a non-immigrant visa, Global Educators can stay in the U.S. on their J-1 Visas for three (3) years with a possible extension of two (2) additional years for a maximum of five (5) years.

At the conclusion of their program, most participants are subject to a two-year home residency requirement in order to complete the cultural exchange and to share what they have learned with their school and community in their home country.

Children under the age of 21 and legally-married spouses of Global Educators are permitted to travel to the U.S. on a J-2 Visa. Other family members of the Global Educator, including parents, siblings, etc., are not permitted to travel on a J-2 Visa.

A Social Security Number is a unique nine-digit number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents. Social Security Numbers are used for employment, income tax returns, bank accounts, drivers’ licenses, and more.

Global Educators must apply for their Social Security Number at a Social Security Administration office once they are in the U.S. It is recommended that Global Educators apply for their Social Security Number at least ten (10) days after arriving in the U.S. on their J-1 visa.