J-1 Visa Executive Chef Jobs

Executive Chef positions in the United States are available to international culinary professionals through the J-1 Trainee or Specialist program category, depending on your experience level. Finding a host employer who will work with a designated sponsor for DS-2019 sponsorship is the central challenge this page helps you solve.

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Overview

Open Jobs142+
Top Visa TypeJ-1
Work Type87% On-site
Median Salary$74K
Top LocationSan Antonio, TX
Most JobsIDEA Public Schools

Showing 5 of 142+ Executive Chef jobs

Rocket Mortgage, LLC
Executive Assistant Intern - Summer 2026
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Rocket Mortgage, LLC
Added 1w ago
Executive Assistant Intern - Summer 2026
Rocket Mortgage, LLC
Detroit, Michigan
Administrative & Office Support
Executive Assistant & Personal Assistant
$21,278 - $57,800/yr
On-Site
Associate's

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Newsela
Account Executive
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Newsela
Added 2w ago
Account Executive
Newsela
Remote
Sales
Account Management
Partnerships & Business Development
Business Development
Enterprise Sales
$80,000/yr
Remote (US)
2+ yrs exp.
None

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Target
Store Executive Intern
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Target
Added 2w ago
Store Executive Intern
Target
Broadview, Illinois
Customer Service & Support
Account Management
Human Resources
Retail Banking & Branch Management
$28/hr - $29/hr
On-Site
None
10,000+

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Figma
Executive Assistant
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Figma
Added 2w ago
Executive Assistant
Figma
San Francisco, California
Administrative & Office Support
Human Resources
Executive Assistant & Personal Assistant
$127,000/yr - $269,000/yr
On-Site
6+ yrs exp.
None

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Smartsheet
Strategic Account Executive
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Smartsheet
Added 2w ago
Strategic Account Executive
Smartsheet
Boston, Massachusetts
Sales
Account Management
Enterprise Sales
$180,000/yr
Remote (US)
5+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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Tips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as an Executive Chef

Match your credentials to the right program category

If you've graduated from a culinary program within the past 12 months, the J-1 Intern category applies. Professionals with at least one year of post-degree experience qualify for the Trainee category, which covers the structured kitchen management training that Executive Chef roles require.

Document your culinary management experience precisely

Designated sponsors require a detailed training plan before issuing your DS-2019. Gather records showing brigade leadership, menu development, and cost control responsibilities. Vague employment letters are the most common reason training plan applications stall at the sponsor review stage.

Target host employers with existing sponsor relationships

Hotels, resort groups, and institutional dining operations are far more likely to have worked with J-1 designated sponsors before. Use Migrate Mate to filter for U.S. employers in hospitality and food service that have a history of hosting international culinary professionals.

Clarify the two-year home residency requirement early

The J-1 Trainee category does not automatically trigger the two-year home residency requirement, but your specific exchange program and funding source may. Confirm your status with the designated sponsor before accepting a host offer, since this requirement affects future visa options.

Align your training plan with the DS-2019 timeline

Your host employer and the designated sponsor must jointly complete a formal training plan before USCIS processes any paperwork. Build at least six to eight weeks into your start-date negotiation to allow for sponsor review, DS-2019 issuance, and consular appointment scheduling.

Verify your host employer can commit to supervision requirements

Designated sponsors require that host employers assign a qualified supervisor and provide structured evaluations throughout your program. Before signing anything, confirm the restaurant or hotel has a senior culinary leader in place who meets the sponsor's supervision criteria and can sign off on progress reports.

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Executive Chef J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions

Which J-1 program category fits an Executive Chef role?

Most Executive Chef candidates qualify under the J-1 Trainee category, which is designed for foreign nationals with a degree in a hospitality or culinary field plus at least one year of related work experience, or five years of professional culinary experience without a degree. The Specialist category applies if you're an established culinary professional brought in to share specific expertise with a U.S. institution, though this is less common for kitchen leadership roles.

Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for an Executive Chef position?

The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT, not the restaurant or hotel that hires you. The hiring employer is your host. The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019, monitors program compliance, and approves the training plan. Your host employer cannot sponsor the J-1 independently; they must work through an approved sponsor organization.

How do I find U.S. host employers open to J-1 culinary professionals?

Migrate Mate lets you search for U.S. employers in hospitality and food service that have a track record of working with international professionals. Focus your search on full-service hotels, resort groups, and institutional dining operators, since these employers are most familiar with the J-1 host process and the training plan requirements that designated sponsors impose.

What does the training plan requirement mean for an Executive Chef applicant?

Before your DS-2019 is issued, you and your host employer must submit a structured training plan to the designated sponsor. For Executive Chef candidates, this plan should outline specific rotations across kitchen management, menu engineering, cost control, and team leadership. Generic job descriptions are routinely rejected. The more precisely the plan maps to measurable culinary competencies, the faster the sponsor review moves.

Can I transition from a J-1 to a long-term work visa after my program ends?

Transitioning to an H-1B or another long-term work visa after a J-1 depends on whether the two-year home residency requirement applies to you. Executive Chef positions under the Trainee category do not automatically trigger this requirement, but your individual circumstances, including your home country and funding source, determine your specific situation. Confirm your status with your designated sponsor before your program ends and before your host employer begins any visa transfer process.

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