Guide to Jobs for Filipino Teachers in the USA
Posted by Frank Gogol in Immigrants | Updated on May 25, 2023
It seems that Filipinos dreaming of a teaching job in the U.S. will now see their dreams come true, at least for a while. Apparently, there’s currently an experiment going on, with teachers from abroad being recruited to teach in schools in the States. To some, it looks like an act of desperation, as more and more American teachers give up on their profession due to the low salaries. As such, the number of Filipino teachers in the USA has grown. What opportunities do Filipinos have? Read to find out.
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Are There Teaching Jobs for Filipinos in the U.S.?
Thankfully, there are indeed teaching jobs for Filipinos in the U.S. It seems that there’s a shortage of teachers in schools, and teachers are needed in specific subjects.
American teachers are constantly giving up, or people simply don’t see a teaching profession that attractive anymore. It is mostly due to the low salaries they are being offered. Some places in the U.S. barely give teachers $10,000, which is lower compared to the national average.
However, that doesn’t stop teachers from the Philippines from taking these jobs. After obtaining their Visas, a lot of Filipinos seek a job as a teacher in the U.S., earning $40,000 – thus, way more than they would’ve earned at home.
Only back in 2017, about 2,800 foreign teachers went to the U.S. to teach, after obtaining a J-1 Visa. Out of these, the ones in the largest number were the Filipinos, as they’ve sent 472 teachers. Therefore, there are enough teaching jobs for Filipinos, given the lack of American ones that still want to teach.
Which Visas Are Available for Filipino Teachers?
One of the most commonly known visas for Filipino Teachers in USA are J-1 Visas, but they’re not the only visas available. Below, you’ll find some information about visas a Filipino teacher has access to.
Common Visas for Teachers
Here are some of the Visas you will see most commonly:
H-1B Visa
This visa is a non-immigrant one and one that allows specialty workers to come to the U.S. and get employed. The visa allows you to stay in the States temporarily, as an employer from the U.S. employs foreign workers at that specific moment.
Through an H-1B Visa, you can stay in the U.S. for three years, although you have the option to extend your stay up to 6 years. So, this is yet another visa for those who want to become Filipino teachers in the USA.
There’s one thing to bear in mind, though: the law limits the number of such visas that are being given each year. Therefore, if you apply when the limit has been reached, you may not be successful.
In order to qualify for an H-1B visa, you have to:
- Make sure your job qualifies for the visa’s program
- Own an equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree, or an actual bachelor’s or higher degree. Your equivalent must be of 4 years from an accredited university or college, though.
- In case you have a foreign degree of only 3 years, working in the same field for 3 years can be considered as another year of education.
J-1 Visa
J-1 Visas are meant for teachers, research scholars or exchange visitors who want to go to the U.S. They’re non-immigrant visas, and more often than not, those who apply for one need to have a certain level of English.
With this visa, the applicant is allowed to remain on U.S. soil until the end of their exchange program. However, they are allowed to remain an additional 30 days after the visa’s expiration, as they have to prepare to leave the U.S.
You can qualify for this visa if you:
- Have a good reputation.
- Have at least 2 years of experience in the teaching field.
- Own a degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in the U.S.
- Are working as a teacher in your home country when you apply.
- Meet the requirements of the state you’re going to teach in.
TN Visa
Just like the previous visas presented, a TN Visa is a non-immigrant status. It’s short for Trade NAFTA and is a status in the U.S., as well as Mexico and Canada. Through this status, a foreign worker receives authorization to work on American land.
In some instances, the Visa is not different from the H-1B one, but it does have some unique traits. For example, you can apply for it at the U.S.’s border and get it in an instant. You can get it for 3 years, but you can also renew it all the time. And on top of that, you won’t have such a difficult time with the application as you would with an H-1B Visa.
You can qualify for this visa if you:
- Have an offer for an eligible U.S. job
- Meet the qualification or educational requirements
- Are a Mexican or Canadian citizen
Other Visas for Teachers
You didn’t think the options for visas for Filipino teachers in the USA are so limited, did you? If you did, you’ll be happy to find out that the visas below are also available for teachers from the Philippines:
P-3 Visa
P-3 visas are available for foreigners so they can come and work in the U.S. as a teacher, as well as a coach, performer, artist or entertainer. The program has to be culturally unique too.
Eligibility is possible when you come to the U.S. both in a group or individually, seeking to teach students about a specific subject. However, the time you’ll be in the U.S. to do this will be of a year.
O-1 Visa
If you’re someone with amazing knowledge in business, arts, science, athletics or education, you may qualify for an O-1 visa. But qualification is possible only if you possess and prove that you have an extraordinary ability. In the education field, it means that you were able to rise to the top of the field, and you’re one of a small percentage able to do so.
An O-1 visa allows you to remain in the U.S. for up to three years. You can extend it up to a year once it expires.
R-1 Visa
If you are a teacher in the religious field, you can come temporarily to the U.S. under an R-1 visa as a foreign national. Simply put, you must teach something related to religion, and not teach something else in a religious institution.
With this visa, you can stay in the U.S. for a period of 60 months if you extend it.
Q-1 Visa
Opposed to the J-1 Visa, which is designated by the Department of State, this visa is meant for international cultural exchange programs by USCIS. It’s great If you want to take part in a cultural exchange program where you will teach others about the culture, history, and traditions of your own country. The employer must also prove that the activities will take place in a public place where more people can participate.
With this visa, you can stay in the U.S. for up to 15 months.
Salaries for Teachers in the U.S.
Salaries for teachers in the U.S. may vary on the state and school they are working for. Back in 2017, the median salary used to be $59,170 for high school teachers, while the best-paid ones earned $75,970 that year. Meanwhile, those with the lowest income earned as much as $45,990.
As mentioned, the highest high school salaries can differ from a state to another. Alaska has the highest mean salary, of $85,420, and it’s followed by New York with $83,360 and Connecticut with $78,810.
Also, high school teachers earned a little more compared to similar jobs. In 2017, while high school teachers had an average salary of $62,860, middle school ones earned $61,050, elementary school ones $60,830, and sports coaches about $42,540.
Personal Loans for Filipino Teachers in the USA
If you’re one of the Filipino teachers in the USA who want to take out a loan, here’s the process you should go through:
1. Submit an Application
You must first apply for the loan. Once you do it, we’ll make sure to reply within 24 hours. There’s a possibility that we’ll need some additional info, in which case we’ll schedule a call with you.
2. Receive an Offer
A promissory note will be sent to you to sign after verifying your documents. Once it’s signed, it will take around 2-3 business days for the money to transfer to your account.
3. Start Making Payments
When the loan has been deposited, you can schedule your payments. It only takes a minute to set up an autopay through your account. Don’t worry – if you pay it off earlier, there will be no prepayment penalty.
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Conclusion
Filipino teachers in the USA are becoming more common now that there’s a lack of teachers in the States. The salary is better for them than it would in the Philippines, while they’re also accomplishing their dream of working in the States. If you need more information, you can always count on us and visit the Stilt website.
