Congratulations on your new U.S. teaching job!
Once TTSI helps you acquire your U.S. teaching job, you will have various responsibilities to help you become successful. TTSI will help you with these responsibilities, as well.
Step One: Obtaining a Visa
TTSI works with several visa sponsors, which allows us to meet your needs and the needs of the hiring district. We will connect you with the appropriate visa sponsor.
Your visa sponsor will provide guidelines and directions on obtaining your program documents, visa, and travel authorization.
Useful downloads:
Visa Process Resources – helpful links and information about completing the visa process in the Philippines
Embassy Interview Preparation – Advice, required documents, sample interview questions
Step Two: Insurance
You MUST have the required level of insurance beginning the moment you arrive in the U.S. (not even 1 day later—from the beginning!).
The U.S. Department of State, these are the requirements.
Program participants and their dependents are required to have medical insurance coverage with the following minimum benefits [22 CFR 62.14].
- Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
- Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
- A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
Sponsors are to require that their participants (and any dependents entering the United States as holders of a J-2 visa) have insurance in effect during the period of time they are in the sponsor’s program. An insurance policy secured to meet the benefits requirements must be underwritten by an insurance corporation with an A.M. Best rating of “A-” or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-I” or above, a Standard and Poor’s Claims Paying Ability rating of “A-” or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above.
Eventually, you will probably get health insurance through your school. Review any options carefully to see whether they meet the federal requirements.
Also, it may be possible to get insurance through a private provider. A quick Web search will identify various private providers.
Your visa provider may also offer insurance, or you may do a combination of school, private, and sponsor insurance plans. Communicate with your sponsor about your options. Each sponsor handles this differently, so discuss the options with your sponsor.
Step Three: Arrival
Make your travel plans. Discuss your travel plans with TTSI, including airlines and dates. This will ensure that we can provide airport pickup and transportation to your new home if you need it.
Once you are in your new community, we help with the following steps:
- Work with your school district administrators to complete your hiring and placement paperwork
- Acquire a social security number and card (find the nearest Social Security Office)
- Set up a bank account
- Familiarize yourself with your new school environment and colleagues
- Provide other advice for housing, utilities, and other common needs.
Step Four: Placement Fees
TTSI will give you a “grace period” of about 4 pay periods before you pay the first installment of your placement fees. This helps you get established in your new home and take care of immediate financial needs before you begin paying for our services.
Once the grace period has passed, you will begin making your monthly installments. Your contract with TTSI describes every cost and process in detail.
Most Important!
When you are in your new teaching position, you might have difficulties with instruction, school programs, teaching your students, or any other difficulty. You are a first-year teacher in a new culture, and you can expect challenges.
Useful Downloads:
Advice for New Teachers – detailed advice about being successful in your new teaching position and community
7 Tips for Classroom Management – strategies for working with students in your U.S. classroom
If you have any difficulties, contact us! TTSI team members have been teachers, school and district administrators, and learning program directors. We can offer advice, coaching, resources, and many other forms of support. Don’t wait until little problem become big problems.
We are here to help you be successful!