H-1B Visa Vice President of Research and Development Jobs

Vice President of Research and Development roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in engineering, life sciences, computer science, or a closely related field. Sponsoring employers file a Labor Condition Application with DOL and an I-129 petition with USCIS, covering an initial three-year H-1B visa status period.

Find H-1B Visa Vice President of Research and Development Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs16+
Work Type69% On-site
Top LocationChicago, IL
Most JobsHarris Computer

Showing 5 of 16+ Vice President of Research and Development jobs

Vice President, Artificial Intelligence Research & Development
We won't show you this job again
Added 3w ago
Vice President, Artificial Intelligence Research & Development
TransUnion
Chicago, Illinois
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Technical Product & Program Management
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
$194k - $353k/yr
Hybrid
Doctorate
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Vice President Research & Development
We won't show you this job again
Added 1mo ago
Vice President Research & Development
Harris Computer
Georgia
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Product Management
Project & Program Management
Technical Product & Program Management
Project Management
Technical Program Management
$120k - $140k/yr
Remote (US)
None
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Applied Research Director and Assistant Vice President Community Development & Engagement
We won't show you this job again
Added 1mo ago
Applied Research Director and Assistant Vice President Community Development & Engagement
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Research & Academia
Laboratory Research
Public Health & Informatics
$159k - $287k
On-Site
Doctorate

Have you applied for this role?

VP, Research & Development
We won't show you this job again
Added 3mo ago
VP, Research & Development
McCrometer
Hemet, California
Specialized Engineering
Project & Program Management
Product Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
Project Management
$190k - $220k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
201-500

Have you applied for this role?

Vice President Research & Development
We won't show you this job again
Added 3mo ago
Vice President Research & Development
MetOx International
Houston, Texas
Specialized Engineering
Manufacturing Operations
Project & Program Management
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Engineering (Non-Software)
Project Management
On-Site
Doctorate

Have you applied for this role?

See all Vice President of Research and Development Jobs

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

Get Access To All Jobs

See all H-1B Visa Vice President of Research and Development Jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Vice President of Research and Development Jobs.

Get Access To All Jobs

Tips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Vice President of Research and Development

Document your advanced degree clearly

Your petition is stronger when your degree field maps directly to R&D leadership duties. If your doctorate or master's is in a niche discipline, prepare a credential evaluation and a detailed duties letter that ties your academic background to the specific technical scope of the VP role.

Use OFLC Wage Search before negotiating

VP of R&D prevailing wages vary significantly by SOC code, geographic area, and wage level. Run the OFLC Wage Search for your target metro before you enter salary discussions so your offer clears the DOL-certified floor and avoids an LCA deficiency after filing.

Find sponsors through Migrate Mate's verified database

Target companies with a documented history of filing H-1B LCAs for senior R&D roles. Migrate Mate lists employers by verified sponsorship history and role type, so you're focusing your search on organizations that have already navigated executive-level H-1B filings.

Confirm each worksite gets its own LCA

VP roles often involve travel to satellite labs, partner facilities, or subsidiary locations. Each primary worksite requires a separately certified LCA before you work there. Raise this with your employer's immigration counsel early so worksite expansions don't stall your authorization.

Check your O*NET profile for specialty occupation framing

The O*NET profile for research and development management roles details the specific knowledge domains and analytical tasks that support a specialty occupation argument. Reviewing it helps you and your employer's attorney frame your job duties in language aligned with what USCIS evaluates.

Start the premium processing conversation at the offer stage

VP-level starts are rarely flexible. If your offer has a hard start date, ask your prospective employer whether they'll elect premium processing on your I-129. USCIS processes premium petitions within 15 business days, which matters when board approvals or product launches depend on your arrival.

H-1B Visa Vice President of Research and Development: Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Vice President of Research and Development role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?

Yes. A VP of R&D role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation because it requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific technical field such as engineering, computer science, biology, chemistry, or a related discipline. The employer documents this in the I-129 petition by showing that the theoretical and practical application of that degree is a normal requirement for the position, not just a preference.

What LCA requirements apply when a VP of R&D travels between company locations?

Each primary worksite where you work for more than a few weeks requires its own certified Labor Condition Application. If your role involves leading R&D teams across multiple facilities, your employer must file separate LCAs for each location before you work there. Short-term placements under DOL guidelines can be covered differently, but for recurring assignments at a fixed site, a site-specific LCA is required.

How long does H-1B status last for a VP of Research and Development?

H-1B status is initially granted for up to three years and can be extended to a six-year maximum. Beyond six years, continued H-1B extensions may be available if a PERM labor certification or I-140 immigrant petition has been filed and meets the statutory criteria. Your employer's immigration attorney should build a long-term plan at the time of your initial petition.

Can I find VP of Research and Development roles at employers who actively sponsor H-1B visas?

Yes. Migrate Mate lists employers with verified H-1B LCA sponsorship history, including companies that have filed for senior research and development roles. Searching by role type and location lets you identify organizations that have already demonstrated willingness and capacity to sponsor at the executive level, which saves significant time compared to cold outreach.

Does the H-1B cap and selection process affect VP of R&D candidates?

It depends on where you're currently working. If you're already in H-1B status with another employer, a transfer to a new VP role is typically cap-exempt. If you're entering from outside the H-1B system, your petition is subject to the annual cap, and the selection rules have changed recently, so confirm the current process directly with USCIS or your immigration attorney before planning your timeline.