Teacher Exchange Blog:  http://j1visateachexc.blogspot.com/

The Cordell Hull Foundation for International Education (CHF) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to continuing the work of Cordell Hull, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945 as “Father of the United Nations.”  Embracing his goals of international peace, CHF has offered programs to improve relations between the United States and other countries, through educational and cultural exchange since
1951.  Secretary Hull served for twelve years, the longest-serving Secretary of State in U.S. history under Franklin Roosevelt.  

CHF is a designated Exchange Visitor Teacher Program sponsor of the J-1 teacher visa for teachers who teach in Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle and High school.  The J-1 visa Teacher Exchange Program was established by the Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961.  Both foreign teacher visitors and students in American classrooms benefit through exposure to the customs, mores of other nationalities, in addition to literature and language skills.  

The Cordell Hull Foundation is located in Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan.

Honoring Commitment to Global Education and Peace

The Cordell Hull Foundation actively sponsors exchange programs for qualifying teachers from every continent.  Teachers hail from over sixty countries including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Senegal, South Korea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela and Wales.  After enjoying the experience of teaching in the United States from 1-3 years, teachers return to their home countries to share positive memories and feedback on a more accurate impression of American culture than is reflected in the media.  Note: Teacher programs are not restricted to countries listed. 

Click here for History of Cordell Hull.

CHF J-1 VISA Teacher Exchange Program

Primary languages represented are French, Spanish, Greek, German, Italian, and Mandarin.   Through contracts with US public and private schools and school systems, CHF administers teacher exchanges primarily in foreign-language and language immersion, bilingual, ESL, Baccalaureate and International curricula.  Exchange teachers in the teachers category (one of fifteen J-1 visa categories) may stay in the US for 1-3 years, and were just granted the privilege of requesting another 2-year stay in February 2016, as long as they have NOT applied for a waiver of the two-year residency requirement.  K-12 teachers are now required to remain in their home countries (or outside of the US) for two years before returning to the US again in J-1 teacher visa status.  They must be K-12 teachers for the year prior to being accepted in the program (not university professors, administrators, school principals, tutors, foreign-language school instructors, or interns).  

CHF is not an employment agency and does not represent individual teachers.  

We do not work through attorneys or employment agencies or any third parties. Immigration attorneys do not apply for and obtain any type of exchange visa through the State Department (i.e. exchange (J) and student (f) visas), only the type issued by the Department of Homeland Security (USCIS, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) such as the (H) and (L) visa category unless they are a responsible officer or alternative responsible officer of a designated organization, very rare.  Since we are operating an exchange program, the Foundation does not allow teachers to pay legal fees, and we insist on working with schools directly.

Language-Immersion Teachers  
Aline Rodriguez from Merida, with her students in a Spanish Immersion school in the Midwest.

Click here for other Teacher Testimonials and stories.

The Cordell Hull Foundation specializes in language-immersion curricula: French, Spanish, German, Greek, Italian and Mandarin where students are taught regular subjects in the target foreign language.  We also sponsor foreign language, ESL, and International Baccalaureate teachers.  To view our information video on how to set up a new exchange program with CHF in either English or Spanish, go to the VIDEOS section of this website.

Currently, CHF accepts applications from schools and school districts.  We do not respond to inquiries from recruiters or attorneys.  Teachers applying for an existing program must first read the Frequently Asked Questions FAQ link on our website and J-1 Visa Exchange Teacher page, then complete our Teacher application form.  The About Us/ Cordell Hull Biography section might assist in answering essay questions. 

CHINA Teacher Exchange  –  Hanban and Shanghai High School CHF is collaborates with Hanban, the Chinese Government Ministry of Education, to bring Chinese teachers to the US and with Shanghai High School to help American teachers find teaching positions in China.  The well-groomed sprawling campus of Shanghai High School, spread out over acres of gardens, walkways and buildings, is organized around subject areas such as languages, mathematics, science, and arts.  Academic and character standards are high.  There is a waiting list of applicants to join the student body of over 2,000 students. Teachers interested in working at Shanghai High School may visit the school website for further information: http://www.shsid.org/english/index.asp

Click here for advice on successful interview for J-1 visa in Chinese Embassies.
See CHF Teacher Perspectives for English version.

deLesseps S. “Toni” Morrison Summer Study Program

The Foundation’s intensive Summer Studies Program in Antigua, Guatemala, aids business people and teachers to rapidly become fluent in Spanish while enjoying an idyllic setting in this quaint village in Central America.  CHF has documented success for learners who stay immersed in Spanish for a sustained period without reverting to English or the learner’s native language.  Additional information on Foundation programs, donor opportunities and sponsorship may be found in the How to Donate section.