DHS: Provisional Waivers Rules Published

H-3 Training Visa

H-3 visas are solely for training. They are not work visas. USCIS will examine all applications for H-3 visas to ensure that they are not being filed to enable the person to engage in actual employment under the guise of a training program.

What Are the Requirements for H-3 Visas?

  • The petitioner must establish that the proposed training is not available in the intended H-3 person’s country.
  • The petitioner must not place the H-3 person in a position that is in the normal operation of business and in which US Citizens and green card holders are regularly employed.
  • The petitioner must establish that the intended H-3 person will not engage in productive employment, unless that employment is incidental and necessary for the training.
  • The petitioner must establish that the training will benefit the intended H-3 person in pursuing a career outside the US.
  • The petitioner must describe the type of training and supervision to be given, and the structure of the training program.
  • The petitioner must establish the pontion of time that will be devoted to productive employment.
  • The petitioner must show the number of hours that will be spent on classroom instruction, as well as those spent in on-the-job training.
  • The petitioner must describe the career abroad for which the training will prepare the intended H-3 person.
  • The petitioner must establish why the training is not available in the intended H-3 person’s country, and why it is necessary for that person to train in the US.
  • The petitioner must establish the source of any remuneration received by the H-3 person and any benefit the petitioner will receive for providing the training.

USCIS will not approve an H-3 Visa if:

  • the training deals in generalities, has no fixed schedule, objectives or means of evaluation;
  • the training is incompatible with the petitioner’s business;
  • the training is on behalf of a person who already has substantial training and expertise in the field of training;
  • the training is unlikely to be used outside the US;
  • the training will result in productive employment beyond that which is incidental and necessary for the training;
  • the training is designed to recruit and train future employees;
  • the petitioner fails to establish that it has the space and personnel to provide the training; or
  • the training is designed to extend a student’s practical training beyond the previously authorized period of practical training.