H-1B Visa For Teachers: Sponsorship & Schools in 2025

The H-1B visa is an excellent opportunity for skilled teachers to advance their careers while living and working in the United States. For primary, secondary, or college teachers with the necessary knowledge and training, the H-1B visa opens doors to teaching roles in the United States, particularly during national teacher shortages.

In this guide, you’ll discover H-1B visa eligibility requirements for teachers, a list of schools and districts that provide H-1B visa sponsorship for teachers, and step-by-step guidance to help you successfully navigate the process and launch your teaching career in the U.S.

In the video below, VisaNation attorney Shilpa Malik explains how teachers on H-1B status differ from other H-1B holders.

 

What is the H-1B Visa for Teachers?

The H-1B visa for teachers is a non-immigrant visa in the U.S. that allows schools to employ foreign teachers in specialty occupations. To qualify, the teaching position must require at least a bachelor’s degree in a specific field, and the teacher must meet these educational requirements.

A U.S. school must sponsor the teacher and file a petition, including a Labor Condition Application, ensuring that the teacher will be paid the prevailing wage and that their employment won’t negatively affect U.S. workers. The H-1B visa is subject to an annual cap and a competitive lottery system, with an initial duration of up to three years, extendable to a maximum of six years.

H-1B Requirements for Teachers

Based on the requirements outlined by the USCIS, to qualify, teachers must meet these conditions:

• Educational Qualifications: Teachers must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher relevant to their teaching position. The required degree level varies based on the educational level they will be teaching—for example, primary school teachers may have different requirements than college professors.
• Foreign Degree Evaluation: If a teacher’s degree was obtained outside the U.S., it must be evaluated to confirm equivalency to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. This formal evaluation is often necessary for visa approval.
• Work Experience:  Relevant professional experience can be substituted for formal education. Typically, three years of experience equates to one year of collegiate education, meaning 12 years of experience could be considered equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree. This equivalence must also be certified.
• Professional Licensing: Teachers must hold any required teaching licenses or demonstrate that they meet the criteria for obtaining one. If the license is not secured before arriving in the U.S., they must show they are eligible to obtain it.
• Labor Condition Application (LCA): The employer sponsoring the teacher’s H-1B visa must submit an LCA to the Department of Labor. This application ensures that the foreign teacher will be paid at least the same wage as domestic workers with similar qualifications and experience or the prevailing wage for the position in the geographical area. The LCA also serves to confirm that employing the foreign teacher will not adversely affect the working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.

Immigration Tip: Teachers should check specific state board of education websites early in the H-1B process to ensure they meet licensing requirements before their visa application.

If you are selected in the 2025-2026 H-1B visa lottery, contact VisaNation attorneys for filing your H-1B petition.

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U.S. School Districts Sponsoring H-1B Visas

Several U.S. school districts are actively sponsoring H-1B visas for teachers, especially in response to the ongoing teacher shortages and the need for educators with specific skills and qualifications. For instance:

1. Dallas Independent School District
2. Camden City School District
3. Houston Independent School District
4. Wake County Public School System
5. Seattle Public Schools
6. District of Columbia Public Schools
7. San Francisco Unified School District
8. New York City Department of Education
9. Boston Public Schools
10. Fairfax County Public Schools
11. Miami-Dade County Public Schools
12. Montgomery County Public Schools
13. Los Angeles Unified School District
14. Chicago Public Schools
15. Orange Unified School District
16. Clark County School District
17. Baltimore City Public Schools
18. Prince George’s Country Public Schools
19. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
20. Denver public schools
21. Atlanta public schools

To discover more schools and districts, you can use reports on Myvisajobs, which provide jobs, and reports on schools sponsoring foreign professionals for H-1B visas.

Schools that Sponsor H-1B Visas for Teachers

It’s important to understand that in the U.S., schools that sponsor H-1B visas for teachers fall into two categories: cap-exempt and cap-subject. This distinction determines how they hire foreign teachers and navigate the visa process.

Cap-Exempt Schools for H-1B Teachers

Some schools can sponsor H-1B visas without being limited by the annual cap. These typically include:

• Institutes of higher education (Colleges and universities)
• Governmental research centers
• Nonprofit entities affiliated with institutes of higher education or governmental research centers

Public school districts may also qualify for a cap exemption if they meet certain conditions, such as:

• Operating as a not-for-profit organization
• Having received approval under the numerical cap exemption since 2006
• Maintaining an Affiliation Agreement with a university and submitting related documentation (such as an I-797 Approval Notice)

Additionally, school districts can be cap-exempt if they have a formal agreement with a university for research or educational collaboration. This could include a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) proving an active working relationship.

Example A

A nonprofit STEM education center collaborates with a nearby university to offer teacher training and K-12 student outreach programs. The nonprofit, through its affiliation with the university, hires foreign teachers on a cap-exempt H-1B visa to lead workshops and curriculum development.

Example B

A public school district partners with a university research center to conduct education studies aimed at improving classroom teaching techniques. The district provides documentation of the research partnership and secures a cap-exempt H-1B visa for an international teacher-researcher to support the program.

Cap-Subject Schools for H-1B Teachers

Schools that do not meet the cap exemption criteria must follow the standard H-1B lottery process and are subject to the annual visa limit. The process includes:

• Filing during the designated application period
• Entering the H-1B lottery
• Proceeding with the visa petition if selected

Since the H-1B cap fills quickly, timing is critical for these schools.

If you are selected in the 2025-2026 H-1B visa lottery, contact VisaNation attorneys for filing your H-1B petition.

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Documents Required for H-1B Registration

• Employer’s name
• Employer’s FEIN identification number
• Business address
• Company’s contact information
• Employer’s lawyer contact information

The H-1B beneficiary will need to provide their name, birthdate, home country, passport number, gender, and educational information (if applicable).

If you don’t fall under the cap-exempt section, then if you are selected in the H-1B lottery, the next step would be for the employer to file a complete petition. This moves the process along to the adjudication stage. Hopefully, USCIS will approve the petition and then you will be able to start working beginning October 1st.

Learn all about H-1B visa stamping in the U.S.

If you are selected in the 2025-2026 H-1B visa lottery, contact VisaNation attorneys for filing your H-1B petition.

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H-1B for Teachers: Transfer Districts

Oftentimes, a teacher with H-1B status will wish to transfer to another school district which requires a transfer petition to be filed. For this to occur a few requirements must be fulfilled:

• The teacher on H-1B status who is desiring the transfer must have filed as cap-exempt through the University Affiliation at some point in the past. How can you prove this?
  • The best way to submit proof of this is by providing Form I-129.
• The other way in which a teacher on H-1B status may transfer to a different district is by transitioning to a district that has been deemed exempt from the annual quota/cap. The requirements of such are noted above.

H-1B for teachers may vary greatly from one school district to another. We recommend scheduling a consultation with an immigration attorney to ensure you receive the most relevant advice.

H-1B for Teachers: Period of Stay

The H-1B visa for teachers allows an initial stay of 3 years, extendable by another 3 years, totaling 6 years. Further extensions in one-year increments are possible in certain situations.

Spouses and Children of H-1B Teachers

Spouses and children of H-1B holders may qualify for H-4 status, granting them benefits like Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), the option to attend school, potential resident tuition fees, and status change flexibility. For specific impacts on family members and further advice, consulting an immigration professional is recommended.

H-1B Fees for Teachers

Premium Processing

Just like for any other H-1B visa option, the USCIS typically extends a premium processing service to teachers who wish to work on H-1B status. This service will shorten the usual processing time from up to six or seven months to just 15 calendar days for a fee of $2,805. This feature does not guarantee you a position in the H-1B lottery nor does it change the earliest start date for your employment (October 1st).

However, there have been times when the USCIS has suspended the premium processing service for H-1B visas. This was done in 2015 and has happened again in 2017.

For example, Margaret is being sponsored by Company RexCo. If this company files four petitions in an attempt to help her chances, all of them will be denied because this is not permitted.

H-1B Lottery Success Rates for Teachers

The selection rate for teachers in the H-1B lottery is the same as for all other participants, as USCIS does not prioritize certain professions over others in the general lottery. However, several factors influence a teacher’s chances of securing an H-1B visa including:

• Whether the teacher has a master’s degree
• How many registrations were submitted in the lottery
• See our definitive guide on chances in the H-1B lottery

How VisaNation Law Group’s H-1B Attorneys Can Help

VisaNation Law Group’s H-1B attorneys have extensive experience filing H-1B petitions for new clients and explaining the complete details of  H-1B for teachers.

They can help you determine whether or not you qualify for the cap exemptions and other benefits as well.

Alternative Visa Options for Teachers

If you do not qualify for an H1B or are not selected, you may want to discuss alternative visa options like the:

• J1 visa teacher program allows foreign teachers to teach in an accredited school for up to three years.
• O-1 visa for highly skilled educators
• TN visas for Canadian/Mexican teachers

Since cases do vary so significantly, it’s advised to contact VisaNation Law Group today with your specific circumstances to get started.

H-1B FOR TEACHERS – RELATED TOPICS

• H-1B Visa Complete Guide
• H-1B Visa Requirements
• H-1B Visa Documents
• H-1B Grace Period
• H-1B Revoked and Layoffs: FAQs
• H-1B RFE Employer-Employee Relationship
• L1 to H-1B Change of Status
• H-1B Annual Cap
• H-1B Visa Lottery Predictions
• H-1B Visa Stamping in India
• H-1B Visa Transfer
• H-1B Visa Extension
• H-1B Dependent Employer
• H-1B for Nurses