Trainee USA

You must be 20+ and be able to fulfil one of the below criteria:

If you don’t have a degree

You must have five years’ full-time experience in your professional field. You don’t need to have worked for the same employer, but it must have been in the same industry and have been within the last seven years. Unsure if your experience makes you eligible? Email your CV to workusa@usit.ie.

If you have a degree

• You must have done a full-time academic course in a recognised Irish university or college. If you’ve completed a Level 6 Major Award, then at least 50% of coursework must be academic. Unfortunately, online, lifelong, special purpose or distance learning courses are not permitted on this visa.
• Plus, you must have one year’s full-time work experience or two years’ part time work experience. There must be a clear link between your academic qualifications, work experience and training position.

Age requirements

There is no age limit for this program – so you could be a graduate with a couple of years work under your belt or have worked a decade or more in your field and be at the top of your game.

When to apply

You can apply at any time of the year. Applications usually take around 12 weeks once you’ve secured your trainee position.

If you did our 1-year Grad USA program after graduating and want to return to the USA on the Trainee USA program, you must wait two years before applying.

What is a training position?

A training position is any position that shows you are up-skilling and developing in your field while receiving supervision. This is not regular employment, and you cannot be filling a labour need or taking a job away from an American worker. Your training position should show a clear progression of skills and rotation throughout your time at your host company.

Duration and salary

Depending on the length of your internship, you’ll be issued with a 1-18 month visa with 30 days before and after. The USA has a well-paid traineeship culture, with most US traineeships equalling or exceeding Irish salaries. Your salary will be negotiated directly with your host company and there is no cap to what you can earn on this visa.

Finding your trainee position

It’s your responsibility to secure your own traineeship, and most professionals on this program have a clear idea of the organisations they want to target. Our team can help by reviewing your CV and directing you towards companies where past participants have found a placement based on their similar experience and/or qualifications.

Approving your traineeship

Your traineeship will be assessed and approved by our US sponsor to make sure it meets US visa and labour criteria. Our team will advise all about this and what your training plan (known as DS7002) must include. Your US sponsor may also need to include a site visit to your US employer. Check out our FAQs for more.

What industries can I work in on this visa?

Popular industries for Irish professionals to continue their training in the USA are construction, events, engineering, tech, law, finance, science, architecture, media, marketing and fashion – but you can work in most fields as long as it is related to your professional field. Since COVID-19, there has been restrictions on training within the hospitality industry. If you work in hospitality, please contact the team to talk through your experience and go over your options.

There are some roles within certain industries such as agriculture, teaching and medicine that aren’t permitted, but our USIT USA team will be able to guide you on this. For more on restricted industries and positions, check out our FAQs

Where can I do my traineeship?

Popular destinations for Irish graduates and professionals to do their career training in are New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego – but you can find a placement anywhere in the States.

Our Ireland-based team will support you through the entire process, from help filling in your forms to preparing for your embassy interview.

1. Secure your position

Check you’re eligible in the tab above, start your online application and pay your deposit. If you don’t already have a traineeship, talk to the team about where past participants with your experience have found a placement.

2. Book a call

Once you have a position secured, you’ll have an in-depth call with our USA team to run through the program, answer any questions, get you set up on the sponsor’s system and conduct a phone interview (this is a visa requirement).

3. Assessment by IENA

Your employer will need to fill out your DS7002 Training Plan which will then go to IENA (our sibling company and your visa sponsor in the US) for approval. If your application is approved, your work papers will be issued within 15 business days – or 21 business days if a site visit to your employer’s workplace is required.

4. Pre-departure pack

Once your application is approved, we’ll email your DS2019 work papers, SEVIS receipt and DS7002 Training Plan. You’ll then receive your pre-departure pack by email with all the information you need to schedule your US Embassy appointment.

5. US Embassy interview

This is an in-person appointment at the US Embassy in Dublin. Please note, they will keep your passport for 5-7+ days.

6. Land in the USA

Before you go, you’ll complete an online orientation with IENA to make sure you’re perfectly prepped for life in the USA. IENA are on hand 24/7 to support you during your stay.