If you think the U.S. is an ideal place to seek visa sponsored jobs, you might just be right. Of course, to so many foreigners it is seen as the home of opportunities so it is understandable to want to come over to work. But then, the spoiler alert is that securing this opportunity can be tough.
Mind you, I didn’t say impossible. It is tough in the sense that many immigrants just like you look for the same life changing opportunity and not only that the process can sometimes be strenuous because you will need to prove a lot of things and likewise your employer.
But here’s the thing, knowing where to look and how to go about it can make a difference. To put into perspective, you need to act fast, smart and be patient with the process. Some great career paths you may want to watch out for sponsorship jobs are tech, healthcare, construction, etc.
I suppose you clicked on this blog to know how you can find visa sponsored jobs in the USA and that is what we will discuss right here in this article. No fluff, just helpful information to give you insight on what to expect and how to go through every step on the way.
Types of U.S. Work Visas
There are different types of U.S. work visas and each has its specified group of people it is made for. Whether you are applying for a non immigrant or immigrant work visas (which are the two main categories of the U.S. work visas), there is an option for you.
It is however important that you understand the different types. We’ll discuss them below one after the other:
1. H-1B Visa (Specialty Occupations)
This is the most popular work visa type in the U.S. Suppose you’re a talent in fields like tech, engineering, medicine, and finance to mention a few, you would need an H-1B visa to be allowed to work in the country. In other words, it is a visa for skilled professionals.
The H-1B visa allows workers to enjoy a work permit for up to 3 years, extendable to 6 years but then, you will need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent to apply.
2. H-2A and H-2B Visas (Seasonal Occupations)
Seasonal workers visas like the H-2A and H-2B visas are only available to seasonal foreign workers. Unlike the H-1B visa, these visas are for seasonal jobs. Simply put, agricultural and non agricultural jobs for instance, hospitality, landscaping, and construction.
Since they are seasonal visas, you don’t get to stay for too long. The labor is needed on a temporary basis so a work permit is usually granted for two years or even less.
3. L-1 Visa (Company Transfer)
Here, there’s the L-1A visa which is meant for transfer of managers and executives and then there is the L-1B visa which is meant for transfer of foreign employees to a company’s branch in the U.S.
Either of these work visas require that the staff or executive must have worked with the company abroad for at least a period of 12 months.
4. O-1 Visa (Extraordinary Ability Individuals)
This visa type needs no introduction. It is meant for those with extraordinary ability and by that I mean those who have demonstrated exceptional talents in fields like art, science, education, business or athletics.
Who can apply? Celebrities, researchers, or top level experts.
5. TN Visa (Canadians and Mexicans)
The UMSCA, formerly NAFTA, allows citizens of Canada and Mexico to apply for professional jobs in the U.S. through the TN visa. It is more interesting to also note that it’s relatively easy to obtain and in some cases doesn’t require employer sponsorship.
6. E-2 and E-1 Visas (Treaty Traders and Investors)
These are treaty traders and investors visas. If your country has a trade treaty with the U.S. then you can apply for either the E-1 visa. The former is for those who involve in multinational trades whereas the latter is for investors who come to the U.S. to invest in business.
7. Green Card Through Employment (Permanent Work Visa)
This is an Employment Based visa that not only allows foreign workers to work in the U.S. but also live in the country as permanent residents. As a matter of fact, there are five preference categories under this visa type (EB-1 to EB-5).
And applying for any of these visas would depend on your skills, investments, and the type of job you are offered.
Top U.S. Companies that Regularly Sponsor Visas
| Company | Location | Job Roles | Salary |
| Google (Alphabet Inc.) | Mountain View, California | Software Engineer,
Data Scientist, Product Manager, UX Designer |
Job roles and positions determine salary, but an estimate could be anywhere between $110,000 to $200,000/per annum |
| Amazon | Seattle, Washington | Software Developer,
Cloud Solutions Architect (AWS), Data Engineer, Operations Manager |
Job roles and positions determine salary, but an estimate could be anywhere between $130,000 to $210,000/per annum |
| Microsoft | Redmond, Washington | Systems Engineer,
AI Researcher, Security Analyst, Software Developer |
Job roles and positions determine salary, but an estimate could be anywhere between $140,000 to $220,000/per annum |
| Meta (FB, IG, WhatsApp) | Menlo Park, California | Front-End/Back-End Engineer,
Data Analyst, Product Designer, Machine Language Engineer |
Job roles and positions determine salary, but an estimate could be anywhere between $150,000 to $230,000/per annum |
| Apple Inc. | Cupertino, California | Hardware Engineer,
Software Developer, iOS Developer, UI/UX Designer |
Job roles and positions determine salary, but an estimate could be anywhere between $130,000 to $200,000/per annum |
| Deloitte | New York City, New York | Business Analyst,
IT Consultant, Financial Auditor, Cybersecurity Specialist |
Job roles and positions determine salary, but an estimate could be anywhere between $90,000 to $150,000/per annum |
| Intel Corporation | Santa Clara, California | Electrical Engineer,
Chip Designer, Embedded System Engineer, AI Specialist |
Job roles and positions determine salary, but an estimate could be anywhere between $100,000 to $190,000/per annum |
How Can I Find Visa Sponsorship Jobs in the U.S.?
Generally speaking, job hunting can be a tasking process but how you go about it matters so you can achieve the end goal which is to get the job. Finding visa sponsorship jobs requires a strategic approach and that’s what you’ll learn here.
Only a few companies in the U.S. offer visa sponsorship jobs and to find these companies these are things to do:
1. Look for Already Established Sponsors
Don’t waste your time applying to just any company you come across as some may not even be offering jobs to foreign workers. That said, you should focus on those that are well known for sponsoring work visas; the likes of Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook have good histories of sponsoring jobs.
2. Make Use of Job Boards
Apart from the big names mentioned above, you can use reputable job boards such as VisaSponsor.jobs and USponsorMe.com to verify visa sponsored jobs across several industries. This way, you can avoid competition by applying for job openings with fewer applicants.
3. Use Target Keywords
When making a search maybe on a website like LinkedIn, optimize your search using target keywords for instance, “H-1B visa sponsorship jobs,” or “Visa sponsorship jobs for foreigners.” You can always tweak your keyword prompts to achieve your desired results.
More so, joining LinkedIn groups as well as other social communities and networking with professionals in your field can be helpful in the process as you never can know who can link you up with a potential employer.
4. Watch out For Nonprofit and Academic Institutions
Nonprofit and Academic instructions often times offer flexible visa sponsorship policies and you may want to consider looking towards these sectors. Exemption from H-1B caps may also be a plus reason you should consider these alternatives.
5. Avoid Job Offers that Seem Too Good to be True
In all you do, do not be so desperate that you ignore obvious red flags. If the job offer seems too good to be true most often than not it is a scam. Make sure to always verify the legitimacy of the jobs you apply for and even when you are accepted, check to be sure it is real.
5 Common Mistakes to Avoid
Finding visa sponsorship jobs can be an exciting process but it stops getting exciting when you make at least one of these mistakes common with immigrants, especially those who are traveling abroad for the first time.
You don’t want to jeopardize your effort by being careless, so you’ve to pay keen attention to details and avoid these harmless-looking yet disastrous ‘Had I Knowns.’
1. Ignoring Visa Requirements
Of course, there are people who wouldn’t bother to read through the visa requirements to know what it says or whether they are eligible to apply. All they do is to head straight to the application and end up getting rejected. That shouldn’t be you.
Specific to every country and employer, there are rules you should know before you apply. Do you need a degree to apply? Is there a certain age requirement? Do you necessarily need a job offer from a U.S. employer? These are the things to check to be sure you are eligible.
2. Applying to Companies That Don’t Sponsor Visas
Worst mistake you could make would be applying to companies that don’t sponsor visas. It is like trying to build castles in the air, you would only end up frustrated and worn out and that is why everything boils down to paying close attention.
Not all companies offer visa sponsorship jobs and most often if they do, it will be stated likewise if they don’t. Your focus should only be on those that offer sponsorships to foreign workers so as to improve your chances of success.
3. Using a Generic Resume and Cover Letter
Don’t try to play smart by copying just any resume or cover letter you see online. Your application should be tailored to meet the job description to indicate that you read and understand the instructions given. Using a generic resume only means you want your application to fall through.
In all you do, you may want to add skills, those relevant to the job role to show the value you bring.
4. Not Mentioning Readiness to Relocate
This right here is another terrible mistake applicants make. Some people try not to sound too desperate so they avoid mentioning their readiness to relocate which is a red flag. You may likely want to ask why you need to.
Well, employers want to know you are ready to move into the U.S for work. They want to know that you can adapt to the working conditions there hence the more reason you should not forget to highlight your eagerness and preparedness to relocate for the job.
5. Not Preparing for Immigration Questions
As much as you should avoid the mistakes above, you should try as much as possible not to be too comfortable to trust your instinct that you can attend the visa interview without preparing beforehand. The questions may not be tough but they require thorough thinking.
Providing answers that are not in line may tell the interviewer you have no clue what you’re into. You want to sound professional, composed and most importantly honest about every question thrown at you, so you’ve got to prepare.
Wrap Up
This brings us to conclusion of the article and so far, I believe you’ve learnt a thing or two on how to go about looking for visa sponsorship jobs in the U.S. From the different types of U.S. work visas to the various companies that actively hire foreign workers and their respective salaries.
Besides, the common mistakes that are shared above should be taken seriously as even the slightest of them can cause you your application. In all, applying for visa sponsorship jobs in the U.S. is a straightforward process that requires acting fast, smart and being patient throughout.