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Non-Immigrant Trainee or Special Education Exchange Visitor (H-3)
Overview: The H-3 visa lets you travel to the U.S. for hands-on training or to join a special education exchange program. It’s designed for skills you can’t easily learn back home. A great option if you want to grow professionally while experiencing U.S. work culture.
The H-3 non-immigrant (temporary) visa category) is for the following:
- Trainee – to receive training in any field of endeavor, other an graduate medical education or training, that is not available in the foreign national’s home country
- Special Education Exchange Visitor – to participate in a special education exchange visitor training programme that provides for practical training and experience in the education of children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
Trainees
An H-3 “trainee” must be invited by an individual or organisation for the purpose of receiving training, in any field including but not limited to:
- Commerce
- Communications
- Finance
- Government
- Transportation
- Agriculture
- Other Professions
This classification is not intended for US employment. It is designed to provide a foreign national with job-related training for work that will ultimately be performed outside the United States.
Requirements
For the employer
In order to obtain H-3 classification, a US employer or organization must demonstrate that:
- the proposed training is not available in the foreign national’s own country;
- the foreign national will not be placed in a position which is in the normal operation of the business and in which US citizens and resident workers are regularly employed:
- the foreign national will not engage in productive employment unless such employment is incidental and necessary to the training and
- the training will benefit the beneficiary in pursuing a career outside the United States.
Special Education Exchange Visitor
There is a numerical limit (or “cap”) on the number of H-3 special education exchange visitors. No more than 50 may be approved in a fiscal year.
A petition requesting an H-3 “special education exchange visitor” must be filed by a facility which has professionally trained staff and a structured program for providing education to children with disabilities, and for providing training and ands-on experience to participants in the special education exchange visitor program. It should include a description of:
- the training the foreign national will receive
- the facility’s professional staff, and
- the foreign national’s participation in the training program
In addition, the petition must show that the special education exchange visitor is:
- nearing the completion of a baccalaureate or higher degree programme in special education, or
- has already earned a baccalaureate or higher degree in special education; or
- has extensive prior training and experience teaching children with physical, mental or emotional disabilities.
Take Away Points
📚 Gain hands-on training not available in your home country.
🌍 Experience U.S. culture while building career skills.
🏫 Join structured programs with clear learning goals.
🤝 Network with professionals in your chosen field.
⏳ Stay temporarily, then apply new skills back home.