Waiter Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship For Foreigners For foreigners aspiring to work as a waiter in the United States, securing a position with visa sponsorship is a viable, albeit competitive, path. The U.S. hospitality industry, particularly in seasonal tourist destinations, often seeks international workers to fill temporary and full-time roles. The most common visas for these positions are the H-2B for temporary non-agricultural workers and the J-1 for exchange visitors.
Finding Waiter Jobs in the USA with Visa Sponsorship: A Guide for Foreigners
Waiter Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship For Foreigners H-2B Visa: This visa is for temporary or seasonal work in non-agricultural sectors.1 Employers must demonstrate that there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to do the temporary work.1 These positions are typically for a specific season, such as winter or summer, and are often found in resorts, country clubs, and restaurants in tourist-heavy areas.
Key features of the H-2B visa for waiter jobs include:
- Seasonal Nature: The jobs are temporary, often for a winter season (October to May) or a summer season (May/June to October)
- Employer Sponsorship: The employer handles the visa petition process.
- Costs: In many cases, employers cover the costs of the flight ticket and visa fee, though this can vary.
- Positions: Available roles often include server, assistant server, and busser.
Where to Find Visa-Sponsored Waiter Jobs
Several avenues can lead to finding a waiter job in the U.S. with visa sponsorship:
Recruitment Agencies and Placement Services: Many agencies specialize in placing international hospitality staff in U.S. jobs. These organizations often have established relationships with employers and can guide applicants through the visa process.
- GoWork Recruitment: This agency offers H-2B visa opportunities for experienced and new waiters, primarily in Florida’s golf and country clubs for the winter season.
Potential Employers
While many restaurants and hotels work through recruitment agencies, some larger companies have their own J-1 programs or have been known to sponsor H-2B visas.
- Marriott International: Offers J-1 visa training programs for international students and young professionals in their U.S. hotels.
- Yellowstone Club: This private ski and golf community in Montana has offered seasonal server jobs with H-2B visa sponsorship.
- Florida Country Clubs: Many country clubs in Florida, such as the High Ridge Country Club, hire seasonal staff, including servers, through the H-2B program
Requirements for Visa-Sponsored Waiter Jobs
The two most common visas for waiter positions are the H-2B for temporary work and the J-1 for exchange visitor programs.
- H-2B Visa: This visa is for temporary, non-agricultural seasonal work.4
- Employer’s Role: The employer must prove that there are not enough U.S. workers available for the position and that hiring foreign workers will not negatively impact the wages of U.S. workers.45 The employer initiates the petition.5
- Candidate’s Role: Applicants must have a valid job offer from a sponsoring U.S. employer and intend to return to their home country after the visa expires.6 You must be a citizen of a country on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s H-2B eligible countries list.
Salary Expectations
Salaries for sponsored waiter jobs can vary significantly based on the location, type of establishment, and whether the position is tipped.
- Hourly Wages: Non-tipping positions may offer a higher base hourly rate, ranging from $15 to $18 per hour.23 One company, Unidine, was noted to offer $18 an hour.1
- Tipped Positions: Jobs that include tips often have a lower base hourly wage (e.g., 12−12−13 per hour), but total earnings can be substantially higher.3
- Estimated Monthly Earnings: Net monthly income after taxes and deductions can range from approximately $1,700 to 3,000∗∗fornon−tippingroles.Fortippedserverpositions,netearningscanpotentiallyreach∗∗3,000∗∗fornon−tippingroles.Fortippedserverpositions,netearningscanpotentiallyreach∗∗4,000 to $6,000 per month, depending on the establishment and season.
How To Apply
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Conclusion
Securing a waiter job in the USA with visa sponsorship is a realistic path for many international hospitality professionals. The most common routes are the temporary H-2B visa for seasonal work and the J-1 visa for internships and training. Success hinges on meeting the specific eligibility criteria for these visas, which often include a combination of education, work experience, and English proficiency
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do I need prior experience to get a sponsored waiter job in the USA? While some entry-level roles may provide training, most employers prefer at least one year of hospitality or customer service experience.12 For more competitive server positions, especially in high-end establishments, several years of relevant experience are often required.3
2. What are the main visa types for waiters? The primary visas are the H-2B visa for temporary, seasonal, non-agricultural work and the J-1 Exchange Visitor visa for those participating in internship or training programs.11 The EB-3 visa is a potential, though more complex, route for a permanent position (green card).1213
3. Do employers cover the application and travel costs? For H-2B visas, employers are often obligated to cover costs, which can include the visa application fee and flight tickets.12 Some recruitment agencies also state that these pre-employment expenses are paid by the employer.3 For J-1 visas, applicants often have to pay program fees to a sponsoring organization.
4. Can I get a green card (permanent residency) through a waiter job? While most waiter sponsorships are for temporary visas like the H-2B and J-1, the EB-3 visa category is a pathway to a green card for skilled workers, professionals, or “other workers.”1213 An employer can sponsor a waiter for a permanent position under this category, but it is a longer and more complex process that requires the employer to prove a lack of suitable workers from the American workforce.13