Since 1990, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Special American Business Internship Training (SABIT) Program has successfully trained almost 7,000 executives and scientists from Eurasia and other regions of the world. SABIT provides trainees (Participants) the opportunity to become familiar with a U.S. industry sector and its regulations, establish valuable business relationships, learn about and purchase innovative technologies, equipment, and services, and come to understand market-based business concepts.
Each industry-specific program trains up to 20 professionals for up to two weeks in the United States beginning with training which may include sessions on policy, legislation, standards, certification, business plan development, cross-cultural negotiations, and management for both associations and businesses. This is complemented by site visits and meetings with U.S. companies in the specific industry sector and supporting associations.
What the Program Provides
For those selected to participate in this program, the U.S. Government will pay for round-trip airfare from a designated site to the United States, lodging, a comprehensive training program, interpreters/facilitators (Russian to English), emergency medical insurance, and a stipend to offset the costs of meals and incidental expenses.
Each Participant must provide his or her own transportation to the designated departure site and possess a valid international passport on which to travel. SABIT will attempt to provide roundtrip tickets from the capital cities of program Participants’ countries of origin. Each SABIT Participant will travel on a B-1/B-2 business visa, which prohibits the receipt of a salary or honorarium. Participants are responsible for the cost of the U.S. visa. SABIT will provide an invitation letter to support your visa application. SABIT Participants may not seek permanent employment in the United States. The process of getting a U.S. visa in some countries is constrained by the global pandemic. SABIT will assist applicants to the extent it can. However, SABIT, and the U.S. Department of Commerce, do not have any control over the visa process, and we must adhere to all U.S. Department of State rules and regulations. Decisions regarding visa issuance are determined solely by the U.S. Department of State.
Description of the Applicant
The program will cover a variety of industry topics including, but not limited to, equipment, technology, and policy. The program is designed for directors, senior managers and executives who oversee specific industry sector activities for their organizations. Candidates who apply to participate in the training program should be in a position of significant responsibility and have at least 3-5 years of management experience.
The program will be simultaneously interpreted from English into Russian by professional interpreters. Therefore, Participants must be fluent in Russian or English.
Applicants are screened and selected by the U.S. Department of Commerce based on their professional and educational achievements and experience in specific industrial sectors. After applications are reviewed, a number of Applicants will be invited to interview with SABIT staff. SABIT’s Washington, DC office will then make final determinations regarding which Applicants are selected for training. Those selected will be notified by a SABIT official from the United States or from a SABIT or U.S. Government representative in their home country or region.
Upon completion of their training, participants must return to their home countries. Participants may not extend their stay in the United States after the training even if the Participant held a visa prior to applying to the SABIT Program. If the Participant remains, the Participant will be reported to the U.S. Embassy in their home country, informing them of the program rule breach. This may affect whether the Participant can get a visa in the future and may affect future visa applicants from his or her country.
Please be advised that the SABIT Program will conduct a due diligence review of both the Applicant and his/her company via several different means, which may include web searches, credit bureau reporting agency searches, through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) at the U.S. Department of Treasury, and other sources. If there are any sanctions against the Applicant or the Applicant’s company or if there are any legal or ethical concerns found, he/she will not be considered for the program. If the Applicant has already been invited before the information was found, his/her invitation may be revoked, or he/she may be terminated from the program if he/she is already in the United States. This review is directed only at serious matters involving U.S. government sanctions, or serious legal or ethical issues, and has resulted in adverse action by the SABIT program only very rarely.
Any material misrepresentation on the part of the Applicant either orally or in writing will automatically be grounds for disqualification or expulsion from the program regardless of whether the Participant is already selected or in the United States.
SABIT Participants are not eligible to participate in a U.S-based SABIT program a second time.
In-person SABIT Programming will be organized and carried out with precautions in place for the health and safety of all attendees in response to COVID-19, and with due regard to and, as appropriate, in alignment with then-current guidelines. Please read the current COVID-19 information found at this link before applying for the program. All Participants must adhere to all directions on COVID-19 safety provided by SABIT staff including but not limited to testing, masks, and necessary quarantine if such a circumstance arises. Please see the information about COVID-19 vaccination and travel information.
For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.