H-1B Visa Environmental Planner Jobs
H-1B visa jobs for Environmental Planners are a strong fit for specialty occupation sponsorship: the role requires a bachelor's degree in environmental science, urban planning, or a related field, and employers file an LCA with DOL before petitioning USCIS. Status is granted for up to three years, extendable to six.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Known as one of FORTUNE’S “100 Best Companies to Work For,” Kimley-Horn is seeking a Environmental Planner to expand our multi-disciplinary environmental planning team in Virginia Beach.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as a key member on the planning and environmental team for infrastructure clients, serving as a Planning and Environmental Manager for infrastructure projects
- Lead the writing of technical plans and reports, summary papers, environmental documents, and re-evaluation, including defining work scope and developing recommendations
- Provide input, technical guidance, and direction to other team members, including managing workflow of the team
- Respond to information requests from the client and others on the project team
- Build and maintain client relationships
- Mentor and develop Analysts, provide leadership in an environment that encourages teamwork, initiative and growth
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in the field of Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, Environmental Policy, or a related degree
- 7+ years of progressively responsible professional level planning experience related to specific area of assignment such as transportation planning, environmental planning or urban planning or Master’s degree and 6+ years of experience
- Excellent writing and communication skills, organization skills, problem solving, and consensus building
- Commitment to producing high quality work, with an emphasis on attention to detail
- Self-motivated team player
- Ability to balance priorities among multiple projects
- Ability to lead planning projects, including providing direction to entry-level Analysts
COMPENSATION:
- Base Salary Range: $100,000.00 - $120,000.00
WHY KIMLEY-HORN?:
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!
Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn:
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
INTRODUCTION
Known as one of FORTUNE’S “100 Best Companies to Work For,” Kimley-Horn is seeking a Environmental Planner to expand our multi-disciplinary environmental planning team in Virginia Beach.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as a key member on the planning and environmental team for infrastructure clients, serving as a Planning and Environmental Manager for infrastructure projects
- Lead the writing of technical plans and reports, summary papers, environmental documents, and re-evaluation, including defining work scope and developing recommendations
- Provide input, technical guidance, and direction to other team members, including managing workflow of the team
- Respond to information requests from the client and others on the project team
- Build and maintain client relationships
- Mentor and develop Analysts, provide leadership in an environment that encourages teamwork, initiative and growth
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in the field of Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, Environmental Policy, or a related degree
- 7+ years of progressively responsible professional level planning experience related to specific area of assignment such as transportation planning, environmental planning or urban planning or Master’s degree and 6+ years of experience
- Excellent writing and communication skills, organization skills, problem solving, and consensus building
- Commitment to producing high quality work, with an emphasis on attention to detail
- Self-motivated team player
- Ability to balance priorities among multiple projects
- Ability to lead planning projects, including providing direction to entry-level Analysts
COMPENSATION:
- Base Salary Range: $100,000.00 - $120,000.00
WHY KIMLEY-HORN?:
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!
Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn:
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
See all H-1B Visa Environmental Planner Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as an Environmental Planner
Align your degree to your SOC code
Environmental Planner roles are typically filed under SOC 19-2041. Pull your O*NET profile for that code and confirm your degree field maps directly to the listed knowledge areas before you apply. Mismatches between your transcript and the SOC classification are a common RFE trigger.
Verify prevailing wages before salary negotiations
Use the OFLC Wage Search to check the prevailing wage for your target city and experience level before you receive an offer. Knowing the Level I through Level IV wage tiers lets you identify whether a quoted salary actually meets DOL certification requirements.
Find employers with active LCA filing history
Target employers who have already certified LCAs for environmental or planning roles, not just large firms you recognize. Migrate Mate shows verified H-1B visa sponsorship history by employer, so you can filter your search to companies that have navigated this process before.
Account for multi-site LCA requirements in your offer
If your role involves fieldwork across multiple project sites or agency offices, each worksite needs its own certified LCA. Raise this with your prospective employer before accepting an offer so the petition reflects every location you'll work from, not just company headquarters.
Prepare NEPA and regulatory documentation for your petition
USCIS adjudicators evaluating specialty occupation for Environmental Planner roles respond well to concrete evidence of degree-level duties. Compile project samples that reference NEPA compliance, environmental impact assessments, or Section 404 permitting to support your employer's I-129 filing.
Time your petition around cap-subject status
H-1B selection rules have changed recently, so confirm the current registration process with USCIS early in your job search. If you're transitioning from OPT or CPT, map your work authorization end date against the H-1B status start date to identify any gap you'll need to plan around.
H-1B Visa Environmental Planner: Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Environmental Planner role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, Environmental Planner typically qualifies as a specialty occupation because the position normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in environmental science, urban planning, environmental engineering, or a closely related field. USCIS evaluates the specific duties listed in the job description and the LCA, so employers must frame the role around degree-level tasks like NEPA analysis, environmental impact assessment, or regulatory compliance rather than general project coordination.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for Environmental Planners?
Sponsoring employers tend to be environmental consulting firms, municipal planning departments, federal contractors, and utilities with active environmental compliance programs. Because not every employer publicizes their sponsorship history, the most direct way to identify them is to browse Migrate Mate, which lists employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history for planning and environmental roles.
What documents should I prepare before my employer files the LCA?
Your employer will need your official transcripts confirming your degree field, your resume detailing duties that map to SOC 19-2041, and any professional credentials such as AICP certification or state environmental licenses. Having these ready before the LCA filing stage prevents delays, since DOL must certify the LCA before USCIS can accept the I-129 petition.
How does project-based fieldwork affect my H-1B status?
Every worksite where you perform H-1B duties needs a certified LCA listing that location. If your projects move across counties or states, your employer must file separate LCAs or update the original before you begin work at each new site. Failing to do this is one of the more common H-1B compliance issues for Environmental Planners whose work involves rotating project locations.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new environmental employer mid-status?
Yes, H-1B portability lets you start working for a new sponsoring employer once they file an I-129 transfer petition, without waiting for USCIS approval, as long as you've maintained valid status. Your new employer must file a new LCA at the prevailing wage for your role and location before or alongside the transfer petition. USCIS reviews the new duties to confirm the role still meets specialty occupation standards.