H-1B Visa Prep Cook Jobs
Prep Cook jobs that qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship are structured around culinary arts degree requirements, with employers filing a Labor Condition Application and I-129 petition on your behalf. The cap and selection rules have changed recently, so targeting employers with active H-1B filing history is the clearest path forward.
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Get Access To All JobsSUMMARY
The people here at Apple don’t just create products - they create the kind of wonder that’s revolutionized entire industries. It’s the diversity of those people and their ideas that supports the innovation that runs through everything we do. Joining the Caffè Macs team will give you the opportunity to craft inspiring meals that fuel the innovation within the company. The Prep Cook is responsible for the preparation of daily entrees/items, featuring daily changing menus with knowledge of culinary ingredients. Prepare ingredients and cook according to established guidelines, understand methods of cooking. Do you have knowledge of quantity food production, presentation, service and sanitation? We would love to talk with you about our Prep Cook positions!
DESCRIPTION
Prepares all food items for the execution of the line cooks including all hot, cold and baked products. Maintains proper food temperatures of foods during preparation and service; pre-preps food according to the menu; notifies chef immediately when food and supplies are not available; maintains food production areas in a clean, neat and orderly manner; cleans assigned areas following established cleaning procedures and schedules. Correctly follow all health, safety, and sanitation guidelines. Understands and follows standard portion sizes, cooking methods, quality standards and kitchen practices. Collaborates with co-workers. Performs additional responsibilities, as requested by the Chef, Sous Chef or Kitchen Manager.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- 1.5 years of corporate kitchen Prep Cook experience required
- Have an approved Food Handler’s Card, kitchen knives and non-slip shoes prior to first day of work
- Ability to lift and transport up to 50 pounds (pots, pans, etc.) on occasion and up to 35 pounds regularly
- Ability to spend 100% of the time standing with the occasional exposure to cold, heat and water
- Basic understanding of professional cooking and knife handling skills
- Understanding and ability to follow safety, sanitation and food handling procedures
- Ability to comprehend, read, and communicate in English
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Knowledge of healthful, nutritional-based cuisine preferred
- Display a real passion for food and cooking and be self-motivated preferably with 2 years of cooking experience preferred in “from scratch” environments and/or culinary education. We can also train if you have the basics.
- Speaks clearly, listens attentively to staff, peers, supervisors, and guests. Clearly communicate with co-workers and managers through reading and writing.
- Maintain the highest standards of conduct and confidentiality
- Continually grows in knowledge by training in other areas in the kitchen. You can lead your own career here and find new challenges.
- Typically we look for talent with 1 year of experience in customer service or high volume food service - preferably larger, innovative corporate programs, in house or 3rd party but may also be food & beverage experience in a full-service hotel, resort or multi-restaurant chain.
- You will work with and serve a versatile diverse workforce.
- Extraordinarily Service Oriented - show high level of customer service is positively mandatory…We hire for attitude, train for skill.
- Dynamic and agile - highly organized, ability to switch between locations and job duties
- Things happen fast here. Bring your ability to multi-task in a high-volume experience and your love for working in a fast pace environment.
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $23.00 and $29.86/hr, and most new hires start at $23.00. Your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
SUMMARY
The people here at Apple don’t just create products - they create the kind of wonder that’s revolutionized entire industries. It’s the diversity of those people and their ideas that supports the innovation that runs through everything we do. Joining the Caffè Macs team will give you the opportunity to craft inspiring meals that fuel the innovation within the company. The Prep Cook is responsible for the preparation of daily entrees/items, featuring daily changing menus with knowledge of culinary ingredients. Prepare ingredients and cook according to established guidelines, understand methods of cooking. Do you have knowledge of quantity food production, presentation, service and sanitation? We would love to talk with you about our Prep Cook positions!
DESCRIPTION
Prepares all food items for the execution of the line cooks including all hot, cold and baked products. Maintains proper food temperatures of foods during preparation and service; pre-preps food according to the menu; notifies chef immediately when food and supplies are not available; maintains food production areas in a clean, neat and orderly manner; cleans assigned areas following established cleaning procedures and schedules. Correctly follow all health, safety, and sanitation guidelines. Understands and follows standard portion sizes, cooking methods, quality standards and kitchen practices. Collaborates with co-workers. Performs additional responsibilities, as requested by the Chef, Sous Chef or Kitchen Manager.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- 1.5 years of corporate kitchen Prep Cook experience required
- Have an approved Food Handler’s Card, kitchen knives and non-slip shoes prior to first day of work
- Ability to lift and transport up to 50 pounds (pots, pans, etc.) on occasion and up to 35 pounds regularly
- Ability to spend 100% of the time standing with the occasional exposure to cold, heat and water
- Basic understanding of professional cooking and knife handling skills
- Understanding and ability to follow safety, sanitation and food handling procedures
- Ability to comprehend, read, and communicate in English
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Knowledge of healthful, nutritional-based cuisine preferred
- Display a real passion for food and cooking and be self-motivated preferably with 2 years of cooking experience preferred in “from scratch” environments and/or culinary education. We can also train if you have the basics.
- Speaks clearly, listens attentively to staff, peers, supervisors, and guests. Clearly communicate with co-workers and managers through reading and writing.
- Maintain the highest standards of conduct and confidentiality
- Continually grows in knowledge by training in other areas in the kitchen. You can lead your own career here and find new challenges.
- Typically we look for talent with 1 year of experience in customer service or high volume food service - preferably larger, innovative corporate programs, in house or 3rd party but may also be food & beverage experience in a full-service hotel, resort or multi-restaurant chain.
- You will work with and serve a versatile diverse workforce.
- Extraordinarily Service Oriented - show high level of customer service is positively mandatory…We hire for attitude, train for skill.
- Dynamic and agile - highly organized, ability to switch between locations and job duties
- Things happen fast here. Bring your ability to multi-task in a high-volume experience and your love for working in a fast pace environment.
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $23.00 and $29.86/hr, and most new hires start at $23.00. Your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
See all 1,000+ H-1B Visa Prep Cook Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Prep Cook Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Prep Cook
Frame your culinary degree for specialty occupation
Gather your culinary arts or food science degree transcripts and get a credential evaluation that maps your program to U.S. bachelor's-level standards. USCIS scrutinizes whether a Prep Cook role genuinely requires that degree, so your documents need to show the connection clearly.
Search employers with verified H-1B LCA filings
Use Migrate Mate to find employers who have certified Labor Condition Applications for culinary and food-preparation roles. Seeing active filing history by role and location tells you which kitchens have already built the HR infrastructure to sponsor a position like yours.
Target hotel groups and institutional kitchen operators
Large hotel chains, university dining programs, and hospital food-service contractors file H-1B petitions more consistently than independent restaurants. These employers have dedicated HR teams familiar with LCA certification and I-129 petition filing timelines, reducing administrative delays on your offer.
Verify the prevailing wage before accepting an offer
Run your offered hourly rate against the OFLC Wage Search for the correct SOC code and the specific county where you'll work. If the offer falls below the certified LCA wage, DOL can decertify the application and your petition stalls before USCIS even reviews it.
Confirm each worksite has its own certified LCA
If your employer assigns you across multiple kitchen locations, each worksite address requires its own DOL-certified LCA before you can legally work there. Confirm this in writing during negotiations so you're not placed at an unlisted location that invalidates your H-1B status.
Plan your timeline around the 3-year initial period
H-1B status is granted for up to three years and can be extended to a six-year maximum. Build your career milestones, any potential green card sponsorship conversations, and PERM labor certification timelines around that window so you're not scrambling at the extension stage.
H-1B Visa Prep Cook: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Prep Cook role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Not automatically. A Prep Cook position qualifies as a specialty occupation only when the employer structures it around duties that genuinely require at least a bachelor's degree in culinary arts, food science, or a directly related field. Employers who successfully sponsor Prep Cooks typically document advanced recipe development, menu engineering, or food safety management responsibilities that go beyond standard kitchen prep work. USCIS evaluates the role as actually performed, not just the job title.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor H-1B visas for Prep Cook positions?
Large hotel groups, resort operators, hospital and university dining programs, and high-volume catering companies with dedicated HR departments are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for culinary roles. These organizations have existing relationships with immigration counsel and established LCA filing processes. Independent restaurants rarely have the administrative infrastructure to manage DOL and USCIS filings. Browse Migrate Mate to see which employers have active H-1B LCA filing history for food-preparation roles by city.
What documents should I prepare before approaching an employer about H-1B sponsorship?
Gather your culinary degree transcripts, a foreign credential evaluation if your degree is from outside the U.S., any food safety certifications, and a detailed description of your previous roles that shows degree-level responsibilities. Employers need this to build the specialty occupation argument in the I-129 petition. Having a clean credential package ready signals that sponsorship will be administratively straightforward and reduces employer hesitation.
How does the prevailing wage requirement affect Prep Cook H-1B sponsorship?
Before USCIS can approve your H-1B petition, your employer must certify a Labor Condition Application with DOL confirming your offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for your SOC code and work location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the wage level for your county. If your offered rate falls short, the LCA won't certify and the petition process stops before it reaches USCIS. The prevailing wage is location-specific, so it shifts if you move to a different kitchen site.
Can my employer transfer my H-1B to a different restaurant location after I start?
Every new worksite address requires its own DOL-certified Labor Condition Application before your employer can legally assign you there. A single LCA covers only the location listed on the certified document. If your employer opens a second location or reassigns you, they must file a new LCA for that site and amend your H-1B petition with USCIS before you begin working at the new address. Confirm this process is in place before agreeing to any worksite change.