Head Chef Green Card Jobs

Head Chef roles can qualify for green card sponsorship under EB-2 or EB-3, depending on your credentials and the employer's petition. The PERM labor certification process requires your employer to document that no qualified U.S. workers are available before filing an I-140 immigrant petition on your behalf, putting you on a path to lawful permanent residency.

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Overview

Open Jobs14+
Top Visa TypeGreen Card
Work Type100% On-site
Median Salary$62K
Top LocationNew York, NY
Most JobsEataly

Showing 5 of 14+ Head Chef jobs

University of New Hampshire
Relief Head Chef - Shoals Marine Lab
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University of New Hampshire
Added 1w ago
Relief Head Chef - Shoals Marine Lab
University of New Hampshire
Durham, New Hampshire
Food Service
Hospitality & Guest Services
Chefs & Cooks
Hospitality Management
Not listed
On-Site
Associate's

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Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Head Chef Assistant / Kitchen Staff
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Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Added 1w ago
Head Chef Assistant / Kitchen Staff
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
New York, New York
Food Service
$20/hr - $23/hr
On-Site
None
10,000+

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Rady Children's Hospital
Head Chef
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Rady Children's Hospital
Added 2w ago
Head Chef
Rady Children's Hospital
San Diego, California
Food Service
Hospitality & Guest Services
Hospitality Management
$34/hr - $46/hr
On-Site
5+ yrs exp.
Associate's
5,001-10,000

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Vietnamese Fast Casual Cafe
Head Chef
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Vietnamese Fast Casual Cafe
Added 2mo ago
Head Chef
Vietnamese Fast Casual Cafe
Seattle, Washington
Food Service
Hospitality & Guest Services
Chefs & Cooks
Hospitality Management
$24/hr - $30/hr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
None

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Eataly
Head Chef
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Eataly
Added 13mo ago
Head Chef
Eataly
New York, New York
Food Service
Hospitality & Guest Services
Hospitality Management
$110,000/yr
On-Site
6+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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Tips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship as a Head Chef

Document your culinary credentials before applying

Gather diplomas, apprenticeship certificates, and letters from former employers confirming your title and years in each role. PERM audits frequently target chef positions, and a complete credential file speeds up your employer's DOL labor certification filing.

Target restaurants with existing PERM filing history

Hotel groups, casino food and beverage operations, and multi-unit restaurant chains are far more likely to have in-house HR teams experienced with PERM sponsorship than independent fine-dining concepts that have never sponsored a foreign worker.

Clarify EB-2 versus EB-3 eligibility with your employer

If the role requires a culinary arts degree and significant supervisory experience, EB-2 may apply. Without an advanced degree, EB-3 skilled worker is the standard route. The category affects your priority date and wait time, especially for applicants from high-demand countries.

Search for green card sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate

Filter by Head Chef roles where employers have active PERM or I-140 history. Migrate Mate surfaces sponsorship data by employer so you can target kitchen leadership positions at companies already familiar with the green card process.

Verify the prevailing wage before negotiating your offer

Your employer must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your specific location and job zone. Use the OFLC Wage Search to check the Level I through Level IV wage range for Head Chef in your target city before you sign an offer letter.

Understand how PERM job requirements constrain your role description

DOL requires the PERM job description to reflect the employer's actual minimum requirements. Listing advanced skills your employer does not genuinely need can trigger an audit. Work with your employer to ensure the posted duties match the real day-to-day Head Chef responsibilities.

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Head Chef Green Card Sponsorship: Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Head Chef role qualify for EB-2 green card sponsorship?

Yes, but it depends on how the role is defined. EB-2 requires the position to genuinely need an advanced degree, such as a master's in culinary arts or hospitality management, or equivalent credentials. Most Head Chef sponsorships file under EB-3 skilled worker instead, since the role typically requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent professional training rather than a graduate degree.

How does green card sponsorship differ from H-1B for a Head Chef?

Unlike H-1B, EB-3 green card sponsorship has no annual lottery and leads directly to lawful permanent residency rather than temporary status. The tradeoff is timeline: PERM labor certification, I-140 filing, and visa availability together often take two to four years or longer depending on your country of birth. H-1B also has narrower specialty occupation requirements that can be harder to satisfy for culinary roles.

What does the PERM process look like for a Head Chef position?

Your employer files the PERM application with DOL after completing a supervised recruitment campaign to confirm no qualified U.S. workers are available for the role. DOL then certifies or audits the application. Once certified, the employer files an I-140 immigrant petition with USCIS. After your priority date becomes current, you apply for adjustment of status or an immigrant visa to receive your green card.

How can I find Head Chef jobs that include green card sponsorship?

Migrate Mate lets you search Head Chef positions filtered by employers with documented PERM or I-140 sponsorship history. This saves significant time compared to cold-applying and then asking each employer whether they sponsor, which many HR teams are unfamiliar with or unwilling to initiate without a strong candidate already identified.

Will my employer need to pay the prevailing wage throughout the green card process?

DOL requires the employer to certify that the offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for the Head Chef role at the time of PERM filing. The wage must also be paid once you receive your green card and begin work in the certified position. You can verify current wage levels for your specific city and role classification through the OFLC Wage Search before accepting any offer.

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