Researching J-1 Sponsors? Here Is What Sets Participate Learning Apart.
Teaching in the U.S. is more than a job. It is a journey—one that will change how you teach, how you see the world, and who you become.
Participate Learning exists to make sure that journey is everything it should be. We have been doing this since 1987, and we show up for you—before you land, while you are here, and when you go home—not as a visa processor, but as a partner in one of the most meaningful experiences of your life.
What most sponsors offer—and what we offer instead
Participate Learning has been a designated sponsor of the U.S. Department of State’s BridgeUSA Exchange Visitor Program (teacher category) since 1987. Choosing a J-1 sponsor means choosing who stands beside you during one of the biggest transitions of your life—here’s how we compare.
| What Teachers Ask | Participate Learning | What Most Sponsors Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Will I have to pay a sponsor fee? | ✓ $0 | $0–$1,505 sponsor fee, plus monthly fees up to $275/month at some programs |
| Who pays for my flight to the U.S.? | ✓ We buy your one-way ticket from your home country | You book and pay for your own travel |
| Who will be there when I land? | ✓ A Participate Learning staff member meets you at the airport | You arrange your own transportation from the airport |
| How do I get a phone? | ✓ We provide a U.S. cell phone with an active line on arrival day and pay for your cell phone plan for six months | You buy your own SIM card or phone after you arrive |
| Who pays for my International Credential Evaluation? | ✓ We do—covered by Participate Learning at no cost to you | Teachers pay for their own, typically $100–$280. Most sponsors do not cover this cost |
| Who handles my U.S. teaching license paperwork? | ✓ We manage the process on your behalf—from compiling requirements to submission. Teachers are responsible only for a portion of the state fee, currently about $60 | Most sponsors provide guidance at best. Teachers are typically responsible for the paperwork and associated costs themselves |
| What will my first days in the U.S. actually look like? | ✓ A one-week, in-person orientation—travel, hotel, and food included—on teaching in U.S. classrooms, finances, housing, health coverage, and daily life, so your first day of school is about teaching, not figuring things out | A 1–2 day virtual or in-person session, or an online packet |
| How do I open a bank account? | ✓ Opened before you arrive; you leave with a debit card in hand | You figure it out after arrival, often waiting weeks for access to your money |
| Will someone help me settle in? | ✓ From pre-arrival housing and transportation guidance provided by Participate Learning, to a current international teacher on the ground in your area—you are supported before you arrive and after | A contact list or online forum |
| Does the program do anything special to support teachers in their first year? | ✓ We bring all first-year teachers together in person mid-year—travel, hotel, and meals covered—to reconnect as a community, grow professionally, and leave feeling supported and ready for the rest of the year | No equivalent structured mid-year gathering |
| Will I be supported in my classroom? | ✓ A Participate Learning Instructional Specialist visits your classroom, gives you personalized feedback, and is available to support you throughout the year | Online resources and occasional email support |
| What is support actually like when I need help? | ✓ Participate Learning staff are available 24/7 by phone and email—and the people who answer know you, know your school, and understand the realities of teaching in a new country. Support covers everything: classroom challenges, visa questions, personal adjustment, and anything else that comes up. | 24/7 availability is required of all J-1 sponsors. The quality, consistency, and depth of that support varies significantly. |
| Does the program support my life beyond the classroom? | ✓ Participate Learning structures your experience around four areas: Connections—building friendships with fellow teachers and your local community; Cultural Experiences—exploring U.S. culture and sharing your own; Leadership—taking on roles inside and outside school; and Learning—growing professionally through courses, credentials, and learning you carry home | Little to no structured support beyond the classroom |
| Can I bring my family with me? | Family members can join you on a J-2 visa if they meet program eligibility requirements. Participate Learning supports teachers who come with family—helping you and your family prepare for the transition and adjust to life in the U.S. | J-2 dependent support varies widely; many sponsors offer limited or no guidance on family transition. Some sponsors may charge a processing fee for each J-2 dependent |
| What about health coverage? | ✓ Medical, life insurance, and mental health support—comparable to what U.S. teachers receive | Basic or minimum-compliant coverage; varies significantly by sponsor |
| How long can I stay? | ✓ Up to 5 years | Up to 5 years |
What teachers who made this choice say
You only live once. And it’s worth taking the risk. For 15 years I thought I was already at my peak. But here I just realized that I am the better version of myself every day.
Yves
Philippines
You’re not alone. You are supported 100%. Anything that I need at any point—I send one email, and I get five responses.
Kim
South Africa
I remember I landed in North Carolina, and there were people ready to open their arms and hug me. It was immediately a soothing experience. I had reached a community of people on the same boat as me.
Daniel
Colombia
I will never regret the moment I pressed the button to submit my application. I would recommend anyone doing this because this is definitely a life-changing experience.
Noelia
Argentina
This experience has taught me to be resilient. After every setback, you’re either going to push forward or look backward. And you cannot look backward. So this experience is a great motivator and an inspiration to me.
Kayon
Jamaica
Moving abroad is hard. But I can tell you—you are going to be supported all the way. Participate Learning has so many things in place to make you feel supported.
Yamina
Argentina
You could almost say Participate Learning over-prepares you because they give you so much information that you can’t really get it wrong. And they’re always so readily available.
Faye
United Kingdom
My advice for teachers is: just do it. If I could do it with a five-month-old baby, you can do it. Every time I said yes, I grew. It’s been transformative for me from every point of view.
Cecilia
Argentina
This seems too good to be true. What’s in it for Participate Learning?
We have been asked that before. The answer is always the same.
Participate Learning was founded in 1987 by the Young family—not as a business venture, but as a belief. A belief that bringing international teachers into U.S. classrooms would change something important: for the students who learned from them, for the teachers who made the journey, and for the communities that welcomed them.
Nearly four decades later, that belief is still what drives us. We are still owned and led by the same family that founded us: people who built this program because they believed in it, not because they saw a business opportunity. The belief that started it all has not changed: cultural exchange, done right, changes lives.
That is what is in it for us.
Ready to Start?
Apply to teach in the U.S. through Participate Learning’s Ambassador Teacher Program—at no cost to you.
Have questions? Email us: [email protected]