Working in the U.S. is a dream for many and as such if you would like to work in this country, then you have come to the right place. Each year, thousands of people just like you, source for countries that offer visa sponsorship jobs, and among them is the U.S. which is the highest desired country to work in amongst many foreign workers.
That said, in this article, I will walk you through the processes involved in getting a job offer and sponsor in the U.S. so that you can avoid lots of headaches and confusion. Now that you know what you’re in for, let’s get started with the business for today, shall we?
What is a USA Visa Sponsorship?
If you plan to work in the U.S., you first need to get a job offer from an employer who is willing to hire a foreigner. In a situation like this, your employer is a sponsor for you. You are also only allowed to work in the job position you are employed in.
Your sponsor or employer must guarantee that you are working in this country legally. The employer must also commit that your income is equal to an American citizen working in a similar position. The sponsorship is a set of documentation submitted by an employer to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
These documents contain various forms and letters. As you know, the U.S. population is high enough to meet the employees for the job market. So the employer must prove that hiring a foreigner is a must.
Who needs a U.S. Visa Sponsorship?
All U.S. work applicants, immigrant or non-immigrant, need a U.S. sponsor. Among non-immigrant visas, applicants of H-1B, (2:40) H-2A, H-2B, L-1A, L-1B, O-1A, O-1B, and O-2 visas require a sponsor. Holders of U.S. immigrant visas and green cards such as EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, and EB-4 also need a sponsor.
In cases where people have special abilities such as being eligible to apply for the EB-1 visa, there is no need to find an employer, so they can be their own sponsors. In this case, all forms and costs must be provided by the applicant. Applicants for EB-5 also apply through self-petitioning.
What is the U.S. visa sponsorship process?
The U.S. visa sponsorship process is a series of must do steps that every applicant must undergo before entering into the country to work through sponsorship. They are as follows:
1. Job Offer and Employment Contract
The applicant for a U.S. work visa must first obtain a recognized job offer from a U.S. employer who should already have sent a contract to sign.
2. Labor Certification Requirement
Most at times, the employer goes to seek a labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor. Getting this certificate means the employer is bound to prove that it has not found eligible labor forever for the position among American citizens in the country.
3. Petition Submission to USCIS
After issuing this certificate, the employer then submits their petition to USCIS. Alongside also comes the Form I-129 for non-immigrant visas and Form I-140 for immigrant visas.
4. Supporting Documents
Aside from the petition, the employer must also submit documents such as travel plans, contracts, and qualifications.
5. Accessing and Completing USCIS Forms
These forms and the filling instructions are on the USCIS websites. Employers can go to this website and get and fill out the forms.
6. Avoiding Errors and Legal Assistance
Making mistakes while filling out these forms will result in the rejection of the employer’s request. Therefore, the employer can also hire a lawyer to prevent these mistakes and prevent the processing time from being prolonged.
7. USCIS Review and Processing Time
In this step, the USCIS assesses the employer’s request and supporting documents. And since the number of applicants is usually high each year, the processing time might be prolonged, varying between a few months up to a year to receive responses from USCIS.
8. Decision and Notification
When the USCIS decides, the result will be communicated to the employee and the employer.
9. Rejection Reasons
Say the rejection gets rejected, the reason for will be disclosed. In most cases, it’s usually because of lack of qualification and insufficient documents which are the most common reasons for rejections.
10. Approval and Next Steps
On the other hand, if the application is approved, the employer and employee then moves on with completing the rest of the application process which includes preparing to come to the U.S.
How long is the validity of the U.S. Visa Sponsorship?
The sponsorship process is the essential part of applying for a work visa and once it’s complete, you can go on with your travel arrangements. However, if you’re applying for a non-immigrant visa, know that the validity of your permission depends on what type of visa you have and of course, its expiration date.
For example, the validity of the H-1B visa is 3 years and some non-immigrant work visas are for 1 year. In some cases, you can increase the validity of your visa. For this purpose, the employer must reapply so that you can get a visa again.
In most cases, you cannot renew more than 2 to 3 times. People who have an immigrant work visa can apply for a green card after a while. The green card is valid for 10 years and it can be extended indefinitely. Now to the expensive part.
How Much Does a U.S. Visa Sponsorship Cost?
The U.S. visa sponsorship process is most times covered by the employer bringing you into the country, which is relatively on the high side. The process can run into thousands of dollars and for this reason, many employers are reluctant to hire foreign workers.
Usually;
1. Form I-129 costs $460,
2. Form I-140 costs $700,
3. American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 costs $750 or $1,500,
4. Threat Prevention and Detection fee is $500, and employers who have more than 50 workers and 50% of them are foreigners must pay $4,000 or $4,500.
Top industries in the U.S. offering visa sponsorship to foreigners
As per NFAP, tech industry giants including Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Google together accounted for over 8,600 H-1B approvals for the 2025 fiscal year. This marked the first time that all four companies occupied the top four positions.
Amazon’s approval was 4,644 which was an increase from 3,871 in 2024. The company now has over 14,500 H-1B visa employees which indicates a considerable reliance on foreign skilled workers.
Meta was the second company to get 1,555 approvals, a near doubling of its last year’s figure. Microsoft granted 1,394 visas, and Google had 1,050 approvals. Apple came in sixth with 823 visas approved. According to NFAP, the staggering increase in hiring foreign workers is a result of huge investments in artificial intelligence and cloud technologies.
The report indicates that the high demand is not only in technology, but also in consulting, finance, and chip manufacturing. The list of top recruiters includes quite a number of firms from banking and professional services.
Top H-1B sponsors (FY 2025):
1. Amazon – 4,644 approvals
2. Meta – 1,555
3. Microsoft – 1,394
4. Google – 1,050
5. TCS – 846
6. Apple – 823
7. Goldman Sachs – 746
8. Cognizant – 743
9. Ernst & Young – 718
10. Intel – 635
11. Nvidia – 563
12. JP Morgan Chase – 553
13. IBM – 501
14. Oracle – 482
15. Walmart – 478
16. ByteDance – 449
17. Deloitte – 432
18. TikTok – 412
19. Capgemini – 401
20. LTIMindtree – 401
21. HCL America – 379
22. Citibank – 371
23. Tesla – 319
24. Avant Healthcare – 308
25. McKinsey & Company – 303
As tech continues to be the major source of foreign talent, consulting and finance firms also don’t fall far behind. Some of the top H-1B sponsors include Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and ByteDance are among the top sponsors of U.S. work visas.
High Paying Jobs with Visa Sponsorship in the U.S.
Many foreign workers choose to come to the U.S. because of the possibility of getting a job that does not only offer visa sponsorship but also pays well enough to live comfortably even as a family person.
Luckily, we’ve carefully handpicked some of these industries and roles that are in high demand and as such offer visa sponsorship to foreign workers to fill up important positions. They are as follows:
1. Software Engineers and Developers
Anywhere software engineer and developer jobs are listed, it’s expected to find companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. This is because these big names actively sponsor visas for roles in web development, cloud computing, and AI.
They promise juicy salaries ranging from 100,000 to $150,000 or even more depending on location and what the employee brings to the table.
2. Data Scientists and Analysts
Up next are data scientist and analyst jobs. These roles attract high paying salaries because of the high demand and heavy reliance on data-driven decisions by businesses in tech, finance, and healthcare companies. This translates to a mouthwatering $95,000 to $140,000/year.
3. Healthcare Professionals
The likes of Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Physicians have strong opportunities as well. In recent times, hospitals and healthcare organizations are faced with shortage in staff which is why there are a lot of opportunities for visa sponsorship in this sector.
As a result, Registered Nurses bag between $80,000 to $120,000 while physicians and medical specialists make $150,000 to over $300,000, which is the highest salary range amongst healthcare roles, though additional U.S. licensing may be required.
Other roles include:
Some other top paying job roles with visa sponsorship in the U.S. are Financial Analysts, Investment Bankers, and Product Managers, these roles mainly have openings in tech and finance cities like New York, San Francisco, and Chicago.
Here, you can expect salaries often ranging from $90,000 to $160,000 for analysts and $110,000 to $160,000 for product managers. Finally, Engineers in mechanical, electrical, and civil fields, as well as specialists in AI and machine learning, are highly sought after. Salaries generally range from $80,000 to $180,000, and companies are often willing to sponsor visas to attract the right talent.
How to find Legitimate U.S. Visa Sponsorship Jobs Online
Each year, the U.S. issues 85,000 new visas, including 65,000 for general applications and 20,000 for those with advanced degrees. Due to high demand, nearly half a million applicants apply each year, which leads to a lottery system with less than a 30% approval rate.
Most companies do not like to sponsor H1B visas because sponsoring an H1B visa can range from $9,000 to $13,000 depending on the company size, complexity of the case, and whether expedited processing is used. On top of that, green card sponsorship is about $10,000 or more.
That is why seventy-five percent of H1B petitions are filed by just 5% of companies such as Infosys, Google, and Amazon. This means there are only a handful of companies to pick from if you need sponsorship. These are mostly Fortune 500 companies and VC-backed startups.
1. Use H1B-Friendly Websites to Find Companies that Sponsor
To find these companies, use H1B-friendly websites such as H1Bgrader.com. H1Bgrader.com is both a website and a Chrome extension designed to help job seekers identify H1B visa sponsoring companies while browsing job listings on platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor. It helps international job seekers find the best companies, job titles, and locations for H1B visa sponsorship.
2. Target H1B-Friendly Companies and Suitable Job Roles
The next step is to target H1B-friendly companies and see if your track record aligns with any open positions. After picking the companies, choose in-demand roles and focus on jobs with high visa approval rates. This is why you should choose your major carefully if you are still in school.
3. Filter Your Search for Jobs on LinkedIn
When searching for jobs on LinkedIn, do not exclude cities with the most H1B opportunities. Use the salary filter to avoid low offers because you need to be paid a certain amount for a company to justify further investment such as H1B expenses and green card sponsorship.
4. Understand Sponsorship Realities and Use STEM OPT Strategically
Small to medium-sized companies may give interviews based on qualifications alone, but they do not like to sponsor H1B visas. If you are on STEM OPT, it is better to raise sponsorship concerns when meeting with a hiring manager rather than on paper.
Being on STEM OPT means you are allowed to work for three years without needing the company to file for H1B sponsorship immediately, which allows time to build a track record.
Can I become a permanent resident through visa sponsorship in the U.S.?
Quite frankly, yes.
In the U.S., visa sponsorship has the potential to result in permanent residency; however, this is dependent on the visa type and the employer’s backing. A variety of work permits, including H-1B and L-1, can facilitate the employer in sponsoring foreign employees with the help of Green Card through employment-based categories like EB-2 or EB-3.
The latter involves labor certification, eligibility checks, and government approval. Despite the fact that sponsorship does not necessarily mean permanent residency, it still offers a definitive legal approach for qualified workers to move from temporary employment status to lawful permanent status over time.
Can I get a visa sponsored job in the U.S. without IELTS or TOEFL?
Of course, securing a visa sponsored job in the U.S. without the need to pass either IELTS or TOEFL is a viable option. The majority of work-related visas do not make these tests necessary.
Employers usually test the applicant’s English knowledge through interviews and judging from the previous work experience. Nevertheless, excellent communication skills continue to be a basic requirement, particularly for jobs in the medical or customer care sectors.
Wrap up
After much has been said, this brings us to the end of this article and so far, you must have learned a thing or two about U.S. visa sponsorship. As more people desire to work in the U.S., the procedures become a bit strenuous because most companies are not just looking for anybody, but individuals who can carry out roles accordingly.
For this reason, it is important that you know the step processes in applying for a visa sponsored job with high paying salaries and most importantly the companies that hire foreign workers. Securing a well paying visa sponsored job is not only about meeting the requirements of the company but researching, being patient, and looking at the right places.
All of these put together can make your dream of working in the U.S. a reality.