H-1B Visa Research Jobs

Research roles in the U.S. span academia, biopharma, think tanks, and federal contractors, and most require at least a master's degree in a directly related field to qualify as a specialty occupation under H-1B. Many research positions also fall under cap-exempt institutions, which means no lottery and faster timelines.

See All Research Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs13,860+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type86% On-site
Median Salary$101K
Top LocationSan Francisco, CA
Most JobsLam Research

Showing 5 of 13,860+ Research jobs

Stanford University
Researcher
We won't show you this job again
Stanford University
Added 3d ago
Researcher
Stanford University
Stanford, California
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
$32/hr - $38/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Penn State University
Researcher
We won't show you this job again
Penn State University
Added 4d ago
Researcher
Penn State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
OpenAI
Researcher
We won't show you this job again
OpenAI
Added 6d ago
Researcher
OpenAI
San Francisco, California
Research & Academia
Laboratory Research
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Data Science
$295,000/yr - $445,000/yr
On-Site
4+ yrs exp.
Doctorate
51-200

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Microsoft
Researcher
We won't show you this job again
Microsoft
Added 1mo ago
Researcher
Microsoft
Redmond, Washington
Research & Academia
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
Data Analytics
$119,800/yr - $304,200/yr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Doctorate
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
University of Denver
Research
We won't show you this job again
University of Denver
Added 2mo ago
Research
University of Denver
Denver, Colorado
Research & Academia
Laboratory Research
$19.29/hr - $55.00/hr
On-Site
None

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)

See all 13,860+ Research jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Research roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

See all 13,860+ Research jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Research roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

Tips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Research

Align your credentials to specialty occupation

Pull your role's O*NET job zone classification before applying. Research positions often require a specific discipline, so a degree in biology won't support a materials science role. Gather credential evaluation letters now if your degree is from outside the U.S.

Target cap-exempt employers first

Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government-affiliated labs are cap-exempt, meaning your employer files the H-1B petition any time of year with no lottery. This matters if you're on a tight OPT timeline or need to start before October 1.

Search verified H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate

Filter by research job titles on Migrate Mate to find employers with active H-1B LCA filing history for your specific occupation code, so you're not guessing about sponsorship willingness before you apply.

Verify prevailing wage before negotiating an offer

Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level I through Level IV prevailing wages for your research title and work location. Your offered salary must meet the certified LCA wage, so knowing the floor before negotiations protects your petition.

Ask about H-1B timing during the offer stage

Confirm whether the employer files cap-subject or cap-exempt petitions, and whether they cover premium processing. Research grant-funded roles sometimes have start-date constraints tied to funding cycles that compress the standard USCIS processing window.

Document publications and grants for the specialty occupation case

USCIS scrutinizes research roles closely, particularly when job duties span multiple disciplines. Peer-reviewed publications, grant awards, and institutional affiliations strengthen the employer's evidence that the position requires a specific degree in a directly related field.

Research jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.

Find Research Jobs

Research H-1B Visa: Frequently Asked Questions

Do research positions at universities qualify as cap-exempt H-1B sponsorship?

Yes, if the employer is an institution of higher education, a nonprofit affiliated with one, or a nonprofit research organization, the H-1B petition is cap-exempt. That means no lottery, no October 1 start-date requirement, and the employer can file at any point in the year. Confirm the institution's cap-exempt status with HR before accepting an offer, since affiliated entities don't always qualify automatically.

What makes a research role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B?

USCIS requires that the position normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific and directly related field. For research roles, that means the job description must tie the degree requirement to a particular discipline, not just any science or engineering background. Positions where a range of degrees could satisfy the requirement are vulnerable to Requests for Evidence, so specificity in the job description matters.

How do I find employers who actually sponsor H-1B visas for research jobs?

Migrate Mate surfaces employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history filtered by occupation code, so you can identify which institutions and companies have sponsored research roles matching your background. This is more reliable than assuming sponsorship based on employer size or reputation, since filing patterns vary widely even among large research organizations.

Can I switch research employers mid-H-1B without losing my status?

Yes, H-1B portability under AC21 lets you start working for a new employer as soon as the new H-1B petition is filed, provided your current petition has been approved and you've maintained lawful status. The new employer files an H-1B transfer petition with USCIS, and you don't need to wait for approval before starting. Grant-funded positions require extra attention because the petition must reflect the actual employing institution, not just the principal investigator's lab.

What happens to my H-1B if my research grant funding runs out?

If your position is eliminated because the grant ends, you enter the 60-day grace period from your last day of employment. During those 60 days, you can file for a change of status, a new H-1B with a different employer, or departure. Research roles tied to specific grants are higher-risk in this regard, so it's worth clarifying whether the employer has a history of bridging researchers to institutional funding when external grants expire.

See which Research employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.

Search Research Jobs