Talinta Teacher Pathways
What it costs to teach in the U.S.
Two different kinds of money go into a J-1 placement. What you pay Talinta for our service, and what you pay everyone else — your Sponsor, government agencies, and independent providers. Both are listed here in full.
What Talinta charges
One fixed service fee, set by your tier. Nothing is due when you apply.
What you pay others
Every required third-party program cost is listed separately. Talinta does not receive commissions from visa sponsors, government agencies, credential evaluators, licensing authorities, insurers, or initial and final program-travel bookings.
Talinta never asks you for money to apply.
If anyone asks you to pay to be considered, email info@talintateacherpathways.com.
What Talinta charges
Find the tier that matches your situation. Your fee is fixed from the day you sign — it does not change with your salary, your placement, or your Sponsor.
Standard placement and support
For teachers starting from scratch
We recruit and screen you, match you with a U.S. school, coordinate your interviews, handle Sponsor coordination and visa facilitation, and support you through your first year after you arrive.
When you pay
Sponsor coordination and visa
For teachers who already have a U.S. position
You found the school yourself, so sourcing, matching and interview coordination are excluded. We review your eligibility and your host school, build your Sponsor-ready application package, and carry it through Sponsor coordination and visa facilitation.
Your Sponsor may offer a direct route for teachers who already hold an offer. We show you that option before you sign, so you can compare.
When you pay
Returning participant
For eligible former J-1 teachers coming back
The same full service as Tier 1, at a reduced fee. If you are returning and have already secured your own position, use Tier 2 instead.
Your outside costs may be lower if prior credential or license documents are still valid and reusable.
When you pay
What you pay others
These go directly to your Sponsor, to government agencies, or to independent providers. They are the same in all three tiers, and none of it passes through Talinta.
| Sponsor program fee — year one | $1,505–$3,760 |
| SEVIS fee | $220 |
| Visa application (MRV / DS-160) | $185 |
| Credential evaluation See below | $150–$300 |
| State license or statement of eligibility | $75–$150 |
| Background check and fingerprinting | $100–$300 |
| Estimated total | $2,235–$4,915 |
On the credential evaluation line
A discounted evaluation — and the right one
TEC (formerly SpanTran) has built a custom application for Talinta Teacher Pathways. It routes you to the evaluation type your Sponsor and state board actually require — ordering the wrong report is the most common and most expensive mistake at this stage — and it applies a discounted rate.
Talinta receives no commission on this fee. You pay TEC directly.
Also required, varies by case
These apply to some participants and not others. We confirm which ones apply to you before you sign.
- Health insurance$0–$200 / mo
- Visa Integrity FeeContingent
- CFO registration / PDOSPhilippines
- J-2 dependents, transfers, extensionsIf applicable
Before your first salary
Not fees — the cost of arriving and settling in before your first paycheck lands.
- Airfare$500–$2,000
- Housing deposit and first month$500–$2,000
- Local transportation, first month$100–$300
- Groceries and household basics$300–$500
Every required third-party program cost is listed separately. Talinta does not receive commissions from visa sponsors, government agencies, credential evaluators, licensing authorities, insurers, or initial and final program-travel bookings. Optional leisure-travel services are separate from the J-1 program. Talinta may receive disclosed referral compensation from qualifying leisure bookings made through an independent travel partner. Every amount we charge is written down before you sign.
External amounts are set by others and may change. We confirm the current figures for your specific case before you sign anything or pay anyone.