Extensions

The program end date for a J-1 Visa initially allows a teacher to stay in the country for three years. The program can be extended for 1-2 additional years if approved by the State Department. Extension applications must be made at least three months prior to their program end date.  We will begin this process in early October of the teachers’ third year in the program. Sagamore works directly with the teacher to manage this process and, as the visa sponsor, is the one to submit the applications to the State Department.

The extension application consists of three parts: a document with of all three year’s worth of cultural activity reports, a letter of support from the current principal, and a fee of $500. The school’s responsibility during this process is to provide the signed letter of support. While some schools opt to pay the fee for the teachers, it is not required for the school to pay it. If the school chooses not to pay the fee, that responsibility falls upon the teacher.

The extension process has a strict timeline in place to get everything turned in so the application can be submitted to the State Department. Sagamore initially reaches out to the teachers in October to determine who is interested in applying for the extension. Once the teacher makes a decision, the school is notified and the support letter is requested, typically in November, though some teachers take longer to make such a momentous decision. Ideally, the letter should be emailed to Sagamore by the end of December in order to ensure a quick turn around with the applications, which we start submitting in January. Once the application is submitted, teachers will usually get a decision back from the State Department within a few weeks. Timely cooperation with the school, teacher, and Sagamore is vital for the success of this process.

Post Program

Typically, a teacher’s program will end on June 30th of their 3rd year or 5th year (if they were approved for an extension) of their program. Teachers are expected to return to their home country at the end of their program to share what they have learned from their time in the U.S. with students back home. When a teacher’s program is ending, there is no responsibility on the school other than to see them to the end of the school year and provide support as they prepare to transition back to their home country. The teacher may ask for a letter of reference which we encourage schools to provide. Sagamore also provides a letter explaining their role in the program at the end of their time here. We also encourage school administration to be supportive and helpful as teachers close out retirement accounts and may need access to W2s.

When a teacher’s program ends, they are required to return home for at least 2 years before they can repeat the program*. As part of the cultural exchange aspect of the program, we encourage schools to maintain a relationship with the teacher even after the program to create a relationship and resource to continue exposing students to a cross-culture educational experience, which can be achieved through a variety of ways. Some way schools have done this is by continuing the cultural activities the teacher performed but in the opposite direction, giving classes the opportunity to connect with the teacher’s students in their home country or even arranging a trip abroad and having the teacher help facilitate.

*Teachers are not allowed to change status while in the program- a host school cannot encourage or assist the exchange teacher to stay in the U.S. beyond their program end date and cannot assist in any way to help the teacher change visa categories. As this is a cultural exchange program, the exchange has not been completed if the J-1 teacher does not fulfill their commitment to return home after their program has been completed. It is Sagamore’s policy to cease partnering with a school that assists a teacher in a change of status.