Exchange Visitor Programs

A one-time, non-refundable program fee at the beginning of an exchange visitor’s term is paid by the sponsoring school or the German government to GAPP. 

Fee for teachers:      700,00 USD
Fee for specialists:   700,00 USD

The following initial fees are paid directly by the teacher/specialist to the appropriate U.S. government agency as part of the visa application process:

• $220 - SEVIS Fee (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). This is a one-time only fee paid only by the J-1 visa applicant
• $185 - Visa Processing Fee paid to the US Embassy. This fee applies to all J-1 and J-2 visa applicants

Depending on your status, the ZfA or your host school may reimburse you for these costs.

Fee for Employment Authorization Form I-765 – for J-2 dependents who wish to work in the United States – Filing Fee $410 (paid directly to the U.S. Government).

Teachers in our program can only directly apply through the ZfA or the individual partner school. GAPP does not work with third party recruitment or placement organizations.

Prior to accepting a position with one of the six schools above you will receive a letter from the ZfA and/or your host school with information about your annual salary. It's important that you fully understand the financial components involved with your participation in the Exchange Visitor Program before you accept a position and arrive in the U.S.

We encourage you to use the information provided here to prepare and plan your finances accordingly prior to your arrival in the U.S. Many teachers/specialists will bring money with them to help with the initial expenses associated with their relocation. 

All GAPP Exchange Visitors are required to act in a financially responsible manner while in the U.S. which includes understanding any and all fees, costs, taxes, insurance, payroll deductions and living expenses etc. they may incur. This includes any additional expenses involved with family members who may join you in the U.S. under J-2 dependent visa status.


Living Costs in the United States

The United States is a large country. Living costs may vary greatly based on where your school is located, the type of housing you choose, the availability of public transportation, and the number of individuals in your family. You should use the information provided here below to estimate your net or “take home” pay so that you can make informed budgeting decisions when it comes to allocating your resources to decide how much you can afford for housing, transport and other everyday cost of living expenses.

For information regarding estimated costs of living (housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes and other expenses) in different regions of the United States, visit the Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator. 

EPI's Family Budget Calculator measures the income a family needs in order to attain a modest yet adequate standard of living. The budgets estimate community-specific costs for 10 family types (one or two adults with zero to four children) in all counties and metro areas in the United States. 

Another helpful ressource is Numbeo´s Cost of Living Database, a crowd-sourced global database of quality of life data: housing indicators, healthcare quality, transport quality, and other statistics. 

Delegated teachers (ADLKs, Language Advisors/Fachberater*innen and Specialists) are covered through the Central Agency for German Schools Abroad (ZfA, "Beihilfe") and their personal additional insurance carrier in Germany. 

Locally hired teachers may participate in the group health insurance plan of their schools. Teachers may also insure themselves online using providers such as VISIT International Health Insurance.