On March 2, 2026, the Alabama International Education and Economic Partnership became the first organization in Alabama authorized by the U.S. Department of State to sponsor SEVIS J-1 exchange visitors through the BridgeUSA program as teachers in the state’s accredited public schools and as on-the-job-training interns at businesses statewide.
ALIEEP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization supported by the Alabama State Legislature to expand international education programs and strengthen partnerships with the Alabama State Department of Education and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. The State Department designation establishes ALIEEP as Alabama’s state-level partner for international exchange focused on the state’s education and workforce needs.
ALIEEP said the SEVIS J-1 Exchange Program was made possible through the support of Jim Purcell, executive director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education and chair of the ALIEEP Board of Directors, and Eric Mackey, superintendent of the Alabama State Department of Education and vice chair of the board. According to a press release, the J-1 Teacher Exchange and J-1 on-the-job-training intern programs support ALIEEP’s mission of promoting multilingual and multicultural education while strengthening workforce development in Alabama.
Executive Director Meesoon Han said the designation will expand instruction in world languages, STEM and other high-demand fields by connecting qualified international teachers with Alabama’s accredited public schools through the J-1 teacher visa program.
ALIEEP is authorized to facilitate J-1 teacher visas for an initial three-year term, with the option of a two-year extension, and J-1 on-the-job-training intern visas for up to 12 months.
Eligible interns must have backgrounds in arts and culture, education, social sciences, library science, counseling and social services, management, business, commerce and finance, sciences, engineering, architecture, mathematics or industrial occupations.
