H-1B Visa Physics Jobs
Physics roles in the U.S. span national laboratories, semiconductor firms, medical device companies, and university research departments, most of which have active H-1B visa filing histories. Specialty occupation status is well-established for physicists, and employers regularly sponsor both cap-subject and cap-exempt petitions for research and applied roles.
Find H-1B Visa Physics JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 112+ Physics jobs
See all 112+ Physics Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Physics roles.
Get Access To All JobsLocation: El Paso, TX
Category: Science
Job Type: Full-time
Posted On: Thu Sep 17 2026
Job Description:
The Department of Physics at UTEP has rapidly growing research programs in experimental, computational, and theoretical physics with 24 faculty members, 5 postdoctoral researchers, 4 research assistant professors, and 3 lecturers. The research areas of the physics faculty include chemical physics, magnetism, energy storage, quantum physics, quantum computation and quantum information, quantum optics, density functional theory, atmospheric physics, physics of materials in extreme environment, optical spectroscopy & microscopy, functional materials, nuclear theory, astrophysics, nano- and biomaterials, and experimental and computational biophysics. The department has access to state-of-the-art experimental facilities for optical, microscopic, magnetic, and structural characterizations of materials, as well as outstanding computational capabilities. The department faculty has access to facilities at several national laboratories, for example, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Lab and Los Alamos National Laboratory, through active collaborations or user-proposal routes. The Department offers B.S. in Physics, M.S. in Physics, and Ph.D. in Physics with an emphasis on quantum science. Our faculty also contribute to other interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs at UTEP in Materials Science and Engineering, Environmental Science and Engineering, Computational Science, Data Science, and Biomedical Engineering. The department is committed to student success, preparing the next generation physicists with knowledge, skills and visions. The Department of Physics has initiated an annual seminar series at UTEP in recognition of the International Day for Women and Girls in Science. Efforts like this have exemplified UTEP's broader commitment to excellence through inclusivity by offering other students from El Paso's community as well as from developing nations an opportunity to excel in physics.
The College of Science at The University of Texas at El Paso is seeking a dynamic leader to serve as Chair of the Physics Department. The Chair will join a multidisciplinary, collaborative, growing department with research activities spanning diverse areas of astrophysics, atmospheric physics, biophysics, condensed matter physics, magnetism, molecular physics, nuclear theory, optical spectroscopy, and quantum information science with broad applications in energy storage, functional materials, nano- and bio-materials. The successful candidate is expected to be an active researcher with a vision for developing research initiatives and strengthening collaborations and partnerships, and a strong leader with program, interpersonal, and personnel management skills. The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to undergraduate and graduate student success serving UTEP's mission of access and excellence as a premier Hispanic Serving Institution.
Job Requirements:
- PhD in a discipline appropriate for the Department of Physics
- Current academic rank of tenured full professor (or equivalent rank)
- Demonstrated leadership skills
- Excellent record of program, people, time, and financial management
- Outstanding record of research, mentoring, and teaching
- Commitment to the core values of collaboration, innovation, and accessibility
Additional Information:
In keeping with its access, excellence, and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.
The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation and gender in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee's or prospective employee's right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries—including the filing of a Formal Complaint or reporting an incident—about the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, who can be reached by phone at (915) 747-8358, by email at titleix@utep.edu, or by mail at 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX, Kelly Hall, Room 312.
For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at eoaa@utep.edu.
To the extent that this position involves research, work, or access to critical infrastructure as referenced in Executive Order GA-48, being hired for and continuing to be employed in this position requires the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.
Location: El Paso, TX
Category: Science
Job Type: Full-time
Posted On: Thu Sep 17 2026
Job Description:
The Department of Physics at UTEP has rapidly growing research programs in experimental, computational, and theoretical physics with 24 faculty members, 5 postdoctoral researchers, 4 research assistant professors, and 3 lecturers. The research areas of the physics faculty include chemical physics, magnetism, energy storage, quantum physics, quantum computation and quantum information, quantum optics, density functional theory, atmospheric physics, physics of materials in extreme environment, optical spectroscopy & microscopy, functional materials, nuclear theory, astrophysics, nano- and biomaterials, and experimental and computational biophysics. The department has access to state-of-the-art experimental facilities for optical, microscopic, magnetic, and structural characterizations of materials, as well as outstanding computational capabilities. The department faculty has access to facilities at several national laboratories, for example, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Lab and Los Alamos National Laboratory, through active collaborations or user-proposal routes. The Department offers B.S. in Physics, M.S. in Physics, and Ph.D. in Physics with an emphasis on quantum science. Our faculty also contribute to other interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs at UTEP in Materials Science and Engineering, Environmental Science and Engineering, Computational Science, Data Science, and Biomedical Engineering. The department is committed to student success, preparing the next generation physicists with knowledge, skills and visions. The Department of Physics has initiated an annual seminar series at UTEP in recognition of the International Day for Women and Girls in Science. Efforts like this have exemplified UTEP's broader commitment to excellence through inclusivity by offering other students from El Paso's community as well as from developing nations an opportunity to excel in physics.
The College of Science at The University of Texas at El Paso is seeking a dynamic leader to serve as Chair of the Physics Department. The Chair will join a multidisciplinary, collaborative, growing department with research activities spanning diverse areas of astrophysics, atmospheric physics, biophysics, condensed matter physics, magnetism, molecular physics, nuclear theory, optical spectroscopy, and quantum information science with broad applications in energy storage, functional materials, nano- and bio-materials. The successful candidate is expected to be an active researcher with a vision for developing research initiatives and strengthening collaborations and partnerships, and a strong leader with program, interpersonal, and personnel management skills. The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to undergraduate and graduate student success serving UTEP's mission of access and excellence as a premier Hispanic Serving Institution.
Job Requirements:
- PhD in a discipline appropriate for the Department of Physics
- Current academic rank of tenured full professor (or equivalent rank)
- Demonstrated leadership skills
- Excellent record of program, people, time, and financial management
- Outstanding record of research, mentoring, and teaching
- Commitment to the core values of collaboration, innovation, and accessibility
Additional Information:
In keeping with its access, excellence, and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.
The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation and gender in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee's or prospective employee's right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries—including the filing of a Formal Complaint or reporting an incident—about the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, who can be reached by phone at (915) 747-8358, by email at titleix@utep.edu, or by mail at 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX, Kelly Hall, Room 312.
For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at eoaa@utep.edu.
To the extent that this position involves research, work, or access to critical infrastructure as referenced in Executive Order GA-48, being hired for and continuing to be employed in this position requires the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.
See all 112+ H-1B Visa Physics Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Physics Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Physics
Translate your physics credentials for USCIS
USCIS evaluates whether your degree field directly relates to the offered role. A degree in applied physics, condensed matter, or optics maps cleanly to most industry positions. If your specialty is niche, get a credential evaluation that explicitly connects coursework to the job's technical requirements.
Target cap-exempt employers to avoid the lottery
Universities, national laboratories like Argonne or Oak Ridge, and affiliated nonprofit research institutions file H-1B petitions outside the annual cap entirely. Pursuing roles at these employers means no lottery risk and year-round filing, which matters if you're on a tight OPT timeline.
Search LCA filings by physics occupation codes
Use Migrate Mate to filter employers by DOL Labor Condition Application filings under physics-specific SOC codes. This surfaces which companies have actively sponsored physicists, not just whether they sponsor H-1B visas broadly across any role.
Verify prevailing wage levels before accepting an offer
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your specific role and location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up Level I through Level IV wages for your physics SOC code before evaluating any offer.
Clarify the petition type during the offer stage
Ask the hiring team whether they're filing a cap-subject or cap-exempt petition and whether they intend to use premium processing. For cap-subject petitions, your start date is fixed at October 1, so confirm the employer's H-1B filing calendar aligns with your authorization end date.
Use O*NET to document specialty occupation eligibility
Physics roles require demonstrating that the position normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific specialty. The O*NET occupation profile for physicists shows job zone, education requirements, and core knowledge areas your employer can reference when building the specialty occupation argument in the I-129 petition.
H-1B Visa Physics: Frequently Asked Questions
Do physics jobs qualify as H-1B specialty occupations?
Yes. Physics roles consistently meet the H-1B specialty occupation standard because the work normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in physics or a closely related field. USCIS has approved physicists across sectors including semiconductor research, medical imaging, defense contracting, and academic institutions. Your employer documents the degree requirement in the I-129 petition using job duties and industry norms.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for physicists?
National laboratories, semiconductor manufacturers, medical device companies, aerospace and defense contractors, and research universities all have established H-1B filing histories for physics roles. Universities and affiliated nonprofit research institutions are cap-exempt, meaning they can file at any time of year without entering the lottery. You can browse verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate by searching physics-specific occupation codes.
Can I get an H-1B for a physics role that mixes research and engineering tasks?
Yes, as long as the core duties require a degree in physics or a directly related field like materials science, electrical engineering, or optical engineering. USCIS looks at whether the theoretical and practical knowledge of the specialty is the dominant requirement. Hybrid roles are common in industry labs, and employers routinely sponsor them successfully when the job description clearly ties duties to degree-level physics knowledge.
How does the H-1B cap affect my physics job search timeline?
Cap-subject petitions are filed in April for an October 1 start date, which means you need a signed offer and a sponsor ready to file roughly six months before you can begin work. If your OPT or STEM OPT expires before October 1, cap-gap rules may bridge the gap. Targeting cap-exempt employers at universities or national labs eliminates the lottery entirely and allows start dates at any time of year.
What should I ask an employer before accepting a physics offer with H-1B sponsorship?
Ask whether they're filing cap-subject or cap-exempt, whether they'll use premium processing, and who handles the filing internally or which firm they use. Confirm that the offered wage meets the DOL prevailing wage for your specific role and location, which you can independently verify using the OFLC Wage Search before signing. Employers are legally required to pay the higher of the actual or prevailing wage once the LCA is certified.