H-3 Visa

The H-3 visa allows foreign nationals to come to the U.S. temporarily for training in a field not available in their home country or to participate in a special education exchange program focused on children with disabilities.

Who is the Visa for?

  • Trainees: Individuals invited by a U.S. organization to receive on-the-job training in fields like finance, agriculture, tech, health care, or manufacturing (but not graduate medical education).


  • Special Education Exchange Visitors: Individuals gaining practical training and experience in educating children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.

Eligibility Requirements

Training Program:
The U.S. employer must provide a detailed training plan showing the program is:

  • Not available in the applicant's home country

  • Not intended for productive employment (only incidental work allowed)

  • Structured and designed to benefit the trainee's career abroad

Petition Required:
The U.S. employer must file Form I-129 with USCIS to petition for the H-3 classification.

Intent to Return: Applicants must demonstrate they plan to return to their home country upon completing the training.

Visa Duration:

  • Trainees: Up to 2 years

  • Special Education Visitors: Up to 18 months There is no path to permanent residency through this visa.

Processing Time:

USCIS Petition (Standard): 4–6 weeks

  • USCIS Petition (Premium): ~15 business days

  • Consular Processing: 1–3 months

Overall: 5–9 months total (standard) or 2–3 months with premium.

OpenSphere Services:

  • Training Program – Drafting compliant USCIS-aligned plans

  • Petition Support – Filing Form I-129 and handling RFEs

  • Exchange Setup – Assisting institutions with special education programs