Panda Restaurant Group OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Panda Restaurant Group hires F-1 OPT students across corporate functions including finance, marketing, supply chain, and technology. As the parent company behind Panda Express, it offers structured pathways for OPT students seeking corporate exposure in a large restaurant group, with a track record of supporting the OPT-to-H-1B visa transition for high-performing employees.
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INTRODUCTION
Our Panda Cook associates are important leaders of our team and the heart of our kitchen. You are responsible for creating food with passion, service with heart and ambiance with pride. As a Cook For Our Team, You Will Have The Opportunity To Embrace a Central Role In a Fast-paced And Growth-oriented Environment. Our Restaurants Are The Heart And Soul Of Our Company, And We Believe Our People Are The Recipe For Success.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
You Will:
- Support in creating a vibrant and welcoming environment for our guests.
- Preparing all dishes to meet company recipes and standards.
- Guiding Kitchen Team and assisting with their training.
- Performing all Back of House responsibilities.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Education And Experience:
- Some high school.
- Prefer some Operations experience.
Food Safety:
- Local/municipal requirements, such as Food Handler certification, acquired at applicant’s own expense.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
How we reward you:
- Flexible schedules.
- Great pay.
- Free meals while working at Panda.
- Medical, Vision, Dental, Voluntary Short-Term Disability, Cancer Income Protection insurance for full-time associates.
- Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending accounts.
- 401K with company match.
- Vacation, sick leave, bereavement/funeral leave and Leave Share Program for eligible associates.
- Associate discounts for many brands.
- Referral bonus for eligible associates.
- Opportunity to give back to your community.
- Hands-on paid training to prepare you for success.
- On-Going Career & Leadership Development.
- Opportunities for growth into management positions.
- Pre-Tax Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account.
- Please refer to https://www.pandacareers.com/files/PRG_HR_Recruiting_Benefits.pdf for details.
- Candidates must meet, and continue to meet if employed, eligibility requirements for each benefit to qualify.
ADA Statement:
While performing duties, counter areas are often hot with steam from steam table and food vapors. Workspace is restricted and employees are generally expected to remain standing for long periods of time. Employees must prepare hot and cold foods, use Chinese cook knife and other kitchen equipment and work quickly without losing accuracy. Employees must be able to lift up to 50 lbs., stand up to four hours and reach across counter tops measured at 36 inches to serve customers. Kitchens are hot and noise levels are usually high; storage space is limited and shelving is high. Employees must be able to work in a fast-paced work environment, have effective verbal communication skills, ability to adapt to a dynamic environment with changing priorities, and the ability to manage conflicts/difficult situations.
Panda Strong Since 1983:
Founded in Glendale, California, we are now the largest family-owned American Chinese Restaurant concept in America. With close to 2,800 locations globally, we continue our mission of delivering exceptional Asian dining experiences by building an organization where people are inspired to better their lives. Whether it’s impacting our team or the communities we work in, we’re proud to be an organization that embraces family values.
You’re Wanted Here:
Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal opportunity, and does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected by law, including but not limited to sex/gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related conditions), gender expression, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, and veteran status. Additionally, Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. complies with all federal, state, and local laws regarding requests for workplace accommodation. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability. Applicants are entitled to reasonable accommodations, absent undue hardship, to effectively participate in the application and hiring process, for example, sign language interpreters. If you believe you require an accommodation for the application or interview process or for the position for which you are applying, please reach out to TASupport@PandaRG.com.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Panda Restaurant Group OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Target corporate roles not restaurant operations
Panda Restaurant Group's OPT hiring is concentrated in its Rosemead, CA corporate headquarters, not individual Panda Express locations. Focus your search on finance, supply chain, marketing, and technology teams where structured internship and new-grad pipelines exist for F-1 students.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Your 24-month STEM OPT extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Before signing any offer letter, ask Panda Restaurant Group's HR team to confirm active E-Verify participation so your extension eligibility isn't jeopardized after you start.
Align your degree to a qualifying STEM role
Not every corporate role at a restaurant conglomerate triggers STEM OPT eligibility. Map your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code to the role's Standard Occupational Classification code using O*NET before applying, so you can confirm STEM designation upfront rather than after accepting an offer.
Research prevailing wage before salary negotiations
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the wage level for your target role and location before your offer conversation. Knowing the DOL wage tiers for corporate analyst or technology roles in Los Angeles County lets you negotiate from an informed baseline specific to Panda Restaurant Group's market.
Build your H-1B case during your OPT period
Panda Restaurant Group has sponsored H-1B visas across corporate functions, so treat your OPT employment as the start of that process. Use Migrate Mate to verify Panda Restaurant Group's H-1B filing history by job title, so you enter negotiations knowing which roles the company has petitioned for previously.
Request DSO authorization well before your start date
Your Designated School Official must authorize OPT on your I-20 before USCIS can issue your EAD. Submit your OPT application to USCIS no later than 90 days before your intended start date, since USCIS processing takes up to 90 days and a delayed EAD will push back your Panda Restaurant Group start date.
Panda Restaurant Group OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Panda Restaurant Group sponsor OPT visas?
Panda Restaurant Group hires F-1 students who already hold OPT work authorization issued by USCIS. The company does not petition for OPT itself, since OPT is granted directly to you as the student. Panda Restaurant Group's role is to hire you and, for STEM OPT extensions, to maintain E-Verify enrollment so your 24-month extension remains valid.
Which departments at Panda Restaurant Group hire OPT students?
Corporate functions at Panda Restaurant Group's Rosemead headquarters are where OPT hiring is most active, including finance, accounting, marketing, supply chain, and information technology. Operational restaurant management roles at Panda Express locations are typically not structured for F-1 OPT students and are less likely to support an eventual H-1B transition.
How do I confirm Panda Restaurant Group supports the STEM OPT extension?
Ask HR to confirm E-Verify enrollment before you accept an offer. STEM OPT requires your employer to be an active E-Verify participant at the time you file for the extension. You can also verify enrollment status independently through the E-Verify employer search tool maintained by the Department of Homeland Security.
How do I find open OPT roles at Panda Restaurant Group?
Search Migrate Mate to filter Panda Restaurant Group roles that align with your OPT authorization and STEM eligibility. Migrate Mate surfaces employer-level data on visa hiring history alongside open positions, so you can see whether specific job titles at Panda Restaurant Group have previously led to H-1B sponsorship before you apply.
What is the timeline for starting work at Panda Restaurant Group on OPT?
You must have your EAD in hand before your first day of work. USCIS recommends filing your OPT application 90 days before your program end date, and processing takes up to 90 days. Coordinate your application timeline with your DSO early so your EAD arrival aligns with Panda Restaurant Group's intended start date.
How does Panda Restaurant Group hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. Panda Restaurant Group can hire OPT students as soon as their EAD card is approved. STEM degree holders can extend OPT by 24 months when their employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Most companies that hire OPT students also support the transition to H-1B when the student's OPT period is ending. Check Panda Restaurant Group's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.