H-1B Visa Chef Jobs
Chef roles can qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship when the position requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent in culinary arts, hospitality management, or a directly related field. Executive chef and research chef roles most commonly clear that bar. Employers must file a Labor Condition Application with DOL and petition USCIS before your start date.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Chef
Location: San Diego, CA (onsite)
We're building the Android of self-driving cars. Our cars drive hundreds of millions of miles every year all around the world. We're looking for a full-time chef to run lunch and dinner for our team in Old Town. This is a Monday through Friday, onsite role cooking for a small group — usually 20–25 people for lunch and 15–20 for dinner. We're looking for someone who can consistently make good food, keep the kitchen running smoothly, and make smart calls with minimal oversight. That means planning healthy meals people actually want to eat, staying on top of snacks and drinks, and managing cost without making the food feel cheap or repetitive.
- Cook lunch and dinner for the office
- Plan menus and manage ordering
- Own inventory, snacks, drinks, and budget
- Keep the kitchen running smoothly
- Work with existing vendors and dietary needs
You should apply if
- You cook well and care about consistency
- You’re organized and self-directed
- You can balance quality, variety, and cost
- You’ve owned kitchen operations before
Comp
- Full-time salary, based on experience
- Stock options
- Health/Dental/Vision
- Office gym and workout classes
To apply, email your resume to work@comma.ai and include a sample lunch/dinner menu.
Job Title: Chef
Location: San Diego, CA (onsite)
We're building the Android of self-driving cars. Our cars drive hundreds of millions of miles every year all around the world. We're looking for a full-time chef to run lunch and dinner for our team in Old Town. This is a Monday through Friday, onsite role cooking for a small group — usually 20–25 people for lunch and 15–20 for dinner. We're looking for someone who can consistently make good food, keep the kitchen running smoothly, and make smart calls with minimal oversight. That means planning healthy meals people actually want to eat, staying on top of snacks and drinks, and managing cost without making the food feel cheap or repetitive.
- Cook lunch and dinner for the office
- Plan menus and manage ordering
- Own inventory, snacks, drinks, and budget
- Keep the kitchen running smoothly
- Work with existing vendors and dietary needs
You should apply if
- You cook well and care about consistency
- You’re organized and self-directed
- You can balance quality, variety, and cost
- You’ve owned kitchen operations before
Comp
- Full-time salary, based on experience
- Stock options
- Health/Dental/Vision
- Office gym and workout classes
To apply, email your resume to work@comma.ai and include a sample lunch/dinner menu.
See all 659+ H-1B Visa Chef Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Chef
Pull your O*NET occupation profile first
The O*NET profile for chefs specifies education and training requirements USCIS uses to evaluate specialty occupation status. Print it before your job search so you can cross-reference job descriptions against the federal definition of your role.
Target research chef and executive roles specifically
Line cook and sous chef positions rarely clear the specialty occupation threshold because they don't consistently require a bachelor's degree. Executive chef and research and development chef titles carry stronger degree requirements and draw far less USCIS scrutiny.
Verify the employer's LCA filing history on Migrate Mate
Search Chef roles on Migrate Mate to see which employers have filed Labor Condition Applications for culinary positions. Employers with a history of certified LCAs for chefs understand the process and are less likely to back out after an offer.
Document your degree equivalency before negotiating offers
If your culinary credential is a three-year diploma rather than a four-year bachelor's degree, get a credential evaluation from a NACES-member agency before an employer begins your petition. Gaps discovered mid-filing can delay your start date by months.
Confirm the employer is enrolled in E-Verify
STEM OPT employers must participate in E-Verify, and many H-1B-sponsoring employers are as well. Ask HR directly during the offer stage. An employer not enrolled in E-Verify may be filing H-1B petitions for the first time, which extends DOL and USCIS processing timelines.
Ask about the LCA wage level before you accept
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your occupation and location. Run the OFLC Wage Search yourself so you know the Level I through Level IV range for your metro area before salary discussions begin.
H-1B Visa Chef: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a chef role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It depends on the specific position. USCIS requires that the role normally require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field like culinary arts or hospitality management. Executive chef and research chef roles typically qualify. General line cook or prep cook positions usually don't, because those jobs don't consistently require a four-year degree as an entry requirement.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for chef positions?
Hotels, restaurant groups, food manufacturing companies, and corporate dining operators are the most active H-1B sponsors for culinary roles. Research and development chef positions at packaged food companies also generate consistent LCA filings. You can browse employers with verified H-1B filing history for chef roles on Migrate Mate, which surfaces DOL Labor Condition Application data by occupation.
What documents does a chef need to support an H-1B petition?
Your employer files Form I-129 with USCIS and must include your educational credentials, any professional certifications like ACF designations, and evidence that your specific role requires a specialized degree. If your culinary diploma is from outside the U.S., a credential evaluation from a NACES-member agency is required to establish degree equivalency before the petition is submitted.
Can a chef on OPT get H-1B sponsorship from a restaurant?
Yes, but the restaurant must offer you a position that clears the specialty occupation threshold, typically an executive chef or culinary director title with documented degree requirements in the job description. Your employer needs to submit your H-1B registration during the annual USCIS lottery window in March. If selected, your OPT cap-gap protection covers the gap until October 1.
How does the H-1B prevailing wage requirement affect chef compensation?
Your employer's Labor Condition Application must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your job title and work location. Prevailing wages for chef roles vary significantly by metro area and wage level. You can look up the current figures for your city using the OFLC Wage Search tool before accepting an offer, so you know the floor your employer must meet.