Sponsor Fee
Lattice does not charge our Wonderlink Teachers a sponsor fee. Put simply, we do not charge teachers for visa sponsorship, and we do not charge any fee to apply to or participate in our program.
Third-Party Fees
Lattice does not permit any third party, whether in the United States or abroad, to charge teachers a fee to apply to or participate in our program. Nor does Lattice permit any other partner organization, recruiter, referral source, or institution to charge such fees. Lattice does not receive or collect any such fees from third parties. Teachers who are interested in the program are welcome to contact us directly to learn about qualification requirements and, if appropriate, may be invited to complete an online application at no cost.
Interested Teachers from Europe
Lattice Global Teachers collaborates with InIm Institute and Babeș-Bolyai University in Romania in connection with outreach, recruitment support, and educational exchange programming. Neither InIm Institute nor Babeș-Bolyai University charges any fee to teachers to apply to or participate in Lattice’s program. Lattice does not permit either organization, or any other third party, to charge teachers fees on its behalf in connection with recruitment, selection, orientation, or participation in the program.
Interested Teachers from the Rest of the World
Outside of Europe, Lattice Global Teachers does not work with third-party recruiters, agents, or partner organizations that charge teachers fees to apply to or participate in the program. Lattice does not permit any third party to charge such fees on its behalf. Teachers may contact Lattice directly to learn about qualification requirements and, if appropriate, complete an online application at no cost.
Fees Teachers May Incur to Participate in Our Program
Teachers who participate in our program should be aware that there are certain costs associated with participation. These may include fees charged by the U.S. government, amounts paid to help cover the cost of applying for a U.S. state teaching license, and amounts paid to third-party service providers for items such as criminal background checks. For convenience, we have summarized those amounts below. Please note that these amounts may change from time to time.
We also do not authorize third-party agents or recruiters to collect fees on our behalf. If you're ever unsure about whether someone is legitimately connected to Lattice, reach out to us directly.
Fees Teachers Will Not Incur in Our Program
Lattice does not charge exchange teachers any fee for J-2 application support, transfer, DS-2019 travel signature(s), DS-2019 re-print(s), or extensions. The only fees teachers may incur are the itemized fees otherwise disclosed by Lattice.
How Much to Save Before Coming
We recommend that every teacher arrives in the U.S. with at least $4,000 in savings to cover initial costs such as:
First month’s rent and deposit
Transportation setup (such as buying or leasing a car)
Household items and groceries
Required visa or licensing fees
Some teachers bring more depending on family size or location. We’ll help you plan based on your specific placement, but this is a safe starting point.
Additionally, should you need assistance acquiring $4,000, Lattice will provide interest-free loans on a need-based basis.
Before departure from their home country, Lattice will provide each teacher with a Welcome Brochure as part of pre-arrival orientation. That brochure will give teachers practical guidance on topics including when and how to apply for a Social Security number, how to open a bank account, how to obtain a driver’s license, employee rights and protections, including workers’ compensation, and how to maintain lawful nonimmigrant status while in the United States. The Brochure will also include all program-related fees shown here as a table of itemized costs.
Teacher Salary
Lattice educators are paid directly by the public school districts that hire them. Your salary will be commensurate with U.S. teachers in similar roles, taking into account your teaching experience, education, and subject area. In your first two calendar years, you're generally exempt from FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare). After that, an additional 7.65% will be withheld.
Pre-Arrival Fees
We don’t charge any Lattice application or sponsor fees, and we don’t work with paid recruiters. However, you will need to budget for some visa, licensing, and setup costs, both before and after you arrive. J-2 Dependents are not required to pay the SEVIS fee.
Post-Arrival Expenses
This table serves as an estimate for fees you should expect to incur to obtain teaching credentials and other one-time fees to settle down in the United States.
Monthly Living Expenses
This table serves as an estimate for the cost of living as an individual person (no dependents or roommates) in the typical Lattice city.
Families seeking full-time childcare for children ages 0 to 4 should discuss their specific situation with an adviser, as these costs often average about $1,000 per month.
Additional Notes and Resources
The figures on this page reflect our best estimates based on current data from Minnesota and other partner states. Your actual costs may vary slightly based on your exact placement and personal choices, but your Lattice onboarding coordinator will walk you through everything in detail.
If you're looking to better understand what life might cost in your assigned location, we recommend the following tools: