For Teachers
Extension & Post ProgramExtension Process
Visa Extension
Your initial Visa is valid for three years. During your 3rd year in the Global Teach Exchange Program, you can choose to apply for a one or two year extension of your Visa or return to your home country. If you choose to apply for an extension, you will be required to work with us to submit an extension application to the State Department in a timely manner. The application consists of three parts:
- a letter of support from your principal that speaks to your cultural contribution to the school
- all three of your Cultural Activity Reports- this means you will need to complete both activities and submit your report before January during your 3rd year
- an application fee of $500 *
In the fall of your third year, Sagamore will send you an email with all of this information along with more specific details and will send an email to your school to inform them of the process as well. One crucial part of this application is the completion of your Cultural Activity Reports. You will need to complete both activities for your third year during the fall semester so that you can write up the report in time to submit the application. All three reports are read by the State Department and are a large part of the approval process
*Some schools may be willing to pay this fee and we will be reaching out to your principals to see if they will be paying for the fee and to give them instructions on the reference letter from them. If your school chooses not to pay the fee, you will need to pay it BEFORE the application for extension is submitted. If the school DOES pay the fee and you change your mind and decide to return home after the extension is approved, the school has the right to recoup the $500 fee from you.
FAQs
When am I eligible for an extension?
You can apply for an extension during your third year in the program.
Do I have to apply for 2 years or can I apply for just 1 year?
You can apply for an extension of either one or two years. However if after the first year you decide you want to apply for the second year you will have to pay the $500 fee again. The maximum number of years you can stay on this Visa is five years.
If I decide not to apply for an extension, when does my program end?
If you decide not to extend, your program will end on June 30th of the third year of your program. You will have a 30-day grace period to return to your home country after June 30th.
Can I switch schools after I apply for an extension?
We do not allow teachers to move schools after an extension since your principal has just written a reference letter supporting you staying for another 2 years. Exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis and only for extreme circumstances.
What is the difference between “Visa end date” and “Program end date”?
Your program end date is the date that your experience as a J-1 Exchange Teacher covers- in most cases, the dates are for three years and look like this example: July 1, 2021, to July 30, 2024 If a teacher applies for an extension and it is approved, then the program is extended for 2 more years.
The Visa end date is the date that the U.S. Embassy in your home country selects as your “entry ticket” into the U.S. Not all countries have the same visa end dates as your program dates on the DS2019. Therefore, the visa expiration date and your DS2019 date may not match.
What happens after I extend and the end date on my visa and DS2019 no longer match?
You will receive a new DS2019 when you are approved for an extension but your Visa will stay the same in your passport. You may stay in the U.S. past your visa end date as long as your DS2019 is still valid (your visa is what gets you into the country, your DS2019 is the what allows you to be here). You would not be able to travel out of the US and re-enter with an expired visa. If your visa is expired and you wish to travel outside of the U.S., you would need to return to the U.S. Embassy in your home country to renew the visa before re-entering the U.S.
End of Program FAQs
What happens when my program ends?
Your program will end on June 30th at the completion of your third year of teaching (if you do not receive an extension) or your fifth year of teaching (if you do receive an extension). Your program end date is located on your DS 2019. You have a 30-day grace period that starts on your program end date- you must leave the US before the 30-day grace period ends.
You will also receive a certificate of program completion and a reference letter from Sagamore as a thank you for your time in our program.
*Note that teaching any part of one academic year counts as a year of teaching. For example, if you arrived in January of 2021, the 2020-2021 academic year was your first year of teaching.
What about the program end date of my J-2 dependents?
If you have any J-2 dependents in the US, the end date of their program is determined by your program end date. When your program ends for any reason, their program will end at the same time. Their program will also end on their 21st birthday (in the case of dependent children) or in the event of divorce (in the case of a spouse).
What if the end date on my Visa is different from the program end date?
You may stay in the US past your visa end date as long as your DS2019 is still valid. However, you would not be able to travel out of the US and re-enter with an expired Visa. If you visa is expired and you wish to travel outside of the US, you would need to return to the US Embassy in your home country to renew the visa before re-entering the US.
What if I do not leave when my Program Ends?
If you do not leave the country within the 30-day grace period that surrounds the end date of your program, it is called “overstaying”. Overstaying can have potential consequences on future visa applications. Depending on how long you overstay, it can bar you from receiving another visa for anywhere from 3-10 years. This all applies to J-2s as well.
Ending Program Early
What if I want to leave the J-1 program before the program end date on my DS2019?
If you want to end your program early, we strongly encourage you to fulfill your teaching duties until the end of your contract year. If you need to end your program early, your program will be shortened and you will receive a 30-day grace period past the end of your employment to leave the U.S.
What if my school has chosen to stop their employment relationship with me?
If your school ends your contract for conduct reasons, we reserve the right to end your program immediately. You would have 30 days past the date your employment ended to leave the country. Please complete an incident form if your school has suspended or fired you. It is important we know right away. https://sagamore.tfaforms.net/4917628
If we decide not to end your program, you would have 30 days to secure a new job at another school. Please complete the school transfer form: https://sagamore.tfaforms.net/4848629
What is a visa termination?
For serious violations of conduct, we have the right to terminate your visa. Read the policies page thoroughly to be sure you understand the rules that must be followed while you are in the U.S. Termination has consequences in the future and the grace period will not apply. You must leave the U.S. immediately after termination.