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As a current Visiting International Teacher (VIT), you will utilize this page to seek guidance on licensure-related matters, how to complete immigration-related processes, how to maintain your J-1 status and to find information about VIT upcoming events. Please reach out to us at exchangeteachers@isbe.net​ if you do not find the specific guidance you seek on this page​.

Emergency Information
​After Hours Emergency Contact

If you find yourself in one of the following situations, please use the phone number listed below to contact your ISBE Responsible Officer (RO)/Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO).

  1. If you are not allowed to board a flight bound for the United States or are denied entry into the United States, where all of your immigration documentation is valid and you are a current J-1 teacher or J-2 spouse or dependent; or
  2. If you are detained at an airport or U.S. Port of Entry (e.g., border crossing, seaport, etc.).

The Emergency After Hours Contact phone number is 1-312-805-1485. (It is 001-312-805-1485 if you are calling from abroad.)

We ask that you refrain from calling this number if you are in one of the following situations.
  • Do not call the number if you forgot or lost your DS-2019. Instead, email your ISBE RO/ARO at exchangeteachers@isbe.net for assistance.
  • Do not call the number if your visa application is delayed or denied. Instead, email your ISBE RO/ARO at exchangeteachers@isbe.net​ for assistance.

Educator Licensure Helpful Links
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VIT Check-In
​VITs are required to complete an ISBE check-in upon arrival to Illinois. We ask that you complete the ISBE Form 95-88 Visiting International Teacher Check-In Form​PDF Document within 5 calendar days of your arrival and email the completed form and the documents identified in section IV on page 1 of the form to our VIT team at exchangeteachers@isbe.net. Our team will review your submitted documents to ensure completion of this requirement and will follow-up with you via email if this requirement has not been met upon the deadline. Please contact us at exchangeteachers@isbe.net​ if you experience issues submitting your documents to us.

Cross-Cultural Activity Report
​ISBE is required to collect a Cross-Cultural Activity Report from each teacher on an annual basis. Submission of this form is a requirement of the program and visa, regardless of whether you intend to return. It is also a requirement for continuation within the program. How effectively a teacher meets these requirements will be a consideration for program-related requests that the host district or the sponsor might make to the State Department on behalf of the teacher, so please be comprehensive in filling out the form. These reports may be submitted to the U.S. State Department or used as part of annual reports to support the continuation of the program in Illinois. 

Note that you are required to report on AT LEAST one activity, though it is important to accurately reflect the variety of activities, beyond just the one. If you have more cross-cultural activities to complete than what fits, please submit the form, then submit another form with the additional activities. 

This Cross Cultural Activity Component Report form is REQUIRED and intended to capture some of the richness of the cultural exchange which took place this year. This form will be collected by ISBE staff near the end of each school year. We will send communication to VITs via email with information and deadlines approximately 2 months before the deadline.

Travel Signatures
​How to request a travel signature: 
  • Complete the ISBE Form 95-89 Document Request/ Contact Information Change Form and email it to exchangeteachers@isbe.net​ . Once your document has been reviewed and your SEVIS record has been updated, our team will ask if you would like to mail in your current DS-2019 to obtain the signature or if you would like to visit us in person to obtain the signature. 
Important Notes: 
  • We will not issue travel signatures until your Document Request/Contact Information Change Form has been submitted by you and on file 
  • Please bring your original DS-2019 to your travel signature appointment 
  • Travel signatures are valid for one year 

Contact Information Update
​How to inform us that your contact information has changed. 
  1. Complete the ISBE Form 95-89 Document Request/Contact Information Change Form and submit it to us at exchangeteachers@isbe.net​ as a .PDF attachment.  
  2. In your email, inform us that your contact information has changed and needs to be updated in SEVIS. 
You will receive an email from us confirming your contact information has been updated. It is your responsibility to ensure your contact information is always up-to-date  as it is required in order to maintain your J-1 status. 

DS-2019 Reprint
​How to request a reprint of your/your spouse or dependent(s)’ DS-2019
  1. Complete the ISBE Form 95-89 Document Request/Contact Information Change Form and submit it to us at exchangeteachers@isbe.net​ as a .PDF attachment.  
  2. In your email, inform us that you need a reprint of your/your spouse or dependent(s) DS-2019 and provide the reason for the request. 
You will receive an email from us once the requested DS-2019(s) has been issued and printed. Please respond to that email to inform us how you would like to receive the document(s). 

Program Extensions

​Visiting International Teachers are eligible to request a one or two-year program extension if the hiring district is on board and willing to extend the employment contract for the additional time. 

ISBE will provide program extension details to host districts during our annual VIT host district meeting in January or February and will follow up with an in-depth email about the process. 

VITs that are interested in extending their program are encouraged to begin to have an informal program extension conversation with their host district during the fall of their third year so that the district is aware of this interest and so that they can start planning accordingly. 

ISBE can submit program extension requests to the Department of State, Office of Designation 60 days before the VIT’s DS-2019 program completion date. 

The VIT must have submitted all required Cross-Cultural Activity reports and any other required materials to ISBE before we move forward with requesting the program extension. 

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Contact Information