Restaurant Associates OPT Eligible Jobs USA

Restaurant Associates hires OPT students across food service management, culinary operations, and hospitality roles. Known for structured workplace environments within premium dining and corporate catering, it's a credible option for F-1 students in food and beverage programs seeking hands-on U.S. industry experience during their OPT period.

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Overview

Open Jobs42+
Top Visa TypeGreen Card
Work Type100% On-site
Top LocationNew York, NY

Showing 5 of 42+ Restaurant Associates OPT Eligible Jobs USA

Restaurant Associates
PASTRY PREP/PRODUCTION
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Restaurant Associates
Added 2mo ago
PASTRY PREP/PRODUCTION
Restaurant Associates
New York, New York
Food Service
$25/hr
On-Site
None

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Restaurant Associates
COOK
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Restaurant Associates
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COOK
Restaurant Associates
Needham, Massachusetts
Food Service
$27.00/hr - $28.00/hr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
None

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Restaurant Associates
Catering Sales & Operations Coordinator
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Restaurant Associates
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Catering Sales & Operations Coordinator
Restaurant Associates
Culver City, California
Customer Service & Support
Events & Tourism
Hospitality & Guest Services
Event Planning
Hospitality Management
$32.00/hr - $35.00/hr
On-Site
1+ yr exp.
None

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Restaurant Associates
SHIFT SUPERVISOR
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Restaurant Associates
Added 2mo ago
SHIFT SUPERVISOR
Restaurant Associates
Chantilly, Virginia
Human Resources
Customer Service & Support
Hospitality & Guest Services
Hospitality Management
$19/hr - $21/hr
On-Site
None

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Restaurant Associates
PASTRY PREP COOK
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Restaurant Associates
Added 2mo ago
PASTRY PREP COOK
Restaurant Associates
Brooklyn, New York
Food Service
$18.50/hr - $23.00/hr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
None

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See all 42+ Restaurant Associates OPT Eligible Jobs USA

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Job Roles at Restaurant Associates

Food Service39 jobs
Chefs & Cooks7 jobs
Hospitality & Guest Services6 jobs
Hospitality Management5 jobs
Customer Service & Support2 jobs
Cleaning & Housekeeping1 jobs
Event Planning1 jobs
Events & Tourism1 jobs
Human Resources1 jobs

See all 42+ Restaurant Associates Jobs

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Tips for Finding Restaurant Associates OPT Eligible Jobs USA

Frame your degree for food service roles

Restaurant Associates hires OPT students into operations and management tracks, not just culinary positions. Tailor your resume to show coursework in hospitality management, food systems, or nutrition science so hiring managers can quickly match your degree to a qualifying specialty occupation role.

Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers

STEM OPT extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Before signing anything, ask Restaurant Associates's HR team to confirm active E-Verify participation. If they can't confirm it, your 24-month extension is at risk even if your role qualifies under STEM criteria.

Target corporate dining and management trainee pipelines

Restaurant Associates operates heavily in corporate and institutional dining, where management trainee and coordinator roles are more likely to support OPT students than front-line hourly positions. Focus your applications on salaried, degree-required postings in those divisions for the strongest fit.

Time your application around your OPT start date

Your OPT EAD has a fixed start date you request through your DSO, and Restaurant Associates can only bring you on after that date activates. Apply at least 90 days before your program end date so your EAD arrives before your intended first day.

Use Migrate Mate to check Restaurant Associates's H-1B history

OPT is a bridge, not a destination. Use Migrate Mate to review Restaurant Associates's H-1B Labor Condition Application filing history so you can assess how actively they've sponsored full-time work visas for food and beverage roles before committing to a position there.

Benchmark your salary against OFLC Wage Search data

Restaurant Associates must pay OPT employees wages consistent with similarly employed workers. Look up your occupation in OFLC Wage Search before negotiations so your offer aligns with DOL wage levels. An offer below prevailing wage can complicate any future H-1B sponsorship at the same company.

Restaurant Associates OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions

Does Restaurant Associates sponsor OPT visas?

Restaurant Associates doesn't sponsor OPT directly because OPT is work authorization USCIS grants to F-1 students, not a visa employers file for. What Restaurant Associates does is hire students who already hold a valid OPT EAD. If your EAD is active and your role qualifies, you can work there during your OPT period without any employer petition required.

Which roles at Restaurant Associates typically support OPT students?

OPT students tend to find the best fit in salaried, degree-required roles such as food service management, operations coordinator, and culinary management trainee positions. Front-line hourly roles rarely satisfy the specialty occupation requirement that makes OPT meaningful as a path toward long-term sponsorship at Restaurant Associates.

How do I start the OPT process when I have a job offer from Restaurant Associates?

The process runs through your school, not Restaurant Associates. Once you have a written offer, work with your DSO to file the OPT application with USCIS and request an EAD start date that matches your expected first day. Restaurant Associates can't bring you on until your EAD is active, so apply early to avoid gaps.

How do I know if Restaurant Associates will sponsor my H-1B after OPT?

H-1B visa sponsorship is a separate decision from hiring an OPT student, and Restaurant Associates evaluates it role by role. Migrate Mate lets you review the company's Labor Condition Application filing history for food and beverage occupations, which gives you a practical signal of how often they've pursued H-1B visa sponsorship for similar positions.

Does Restaurant Associates need to do anything special for my STEM OPT extension?

Yes. For the 24-month STEM OPT extension, USCIS requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify and to sign a formal training plan with you. Confirm Restaurant Associates's E-Verify status with HR before you apply for the extension, since your DSO will need that confirmation to authorize the updated I-20.

How does Restaurant Associates hire OPT students?

OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. Restaurant Associates 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 Restaurant Associates's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.