J-1 Visa Welder Jobs
Welder roles in the United States are accessible to international exchange visitors through the J-1 Trainee or Intern program categories, which require a designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019. Positions span manufacturing, construction, and industrial sectors. Finding a host employer willing to participate in J-1 sponsorship is the first step toward a placement.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Stoughton Trailers is looking for employees who are interested in becoming welders at our Stoughton plant. We pay you while we teach you how to weld. If you've always wanted to learn a skilled trade that's in high demand, this is the opportunity you've been looking for.
ROLE
Weld School at Stoughton Trailers starts with 2 weeks of classroom/weld lab training where you'll learn about the basics of welding, the equipment used techniques utilized, weld machine settings, how to read blueprints, and so much more. Most importantly you'll work with our expert Weld Instructors who will show you how to weld, and work with you to improve your skills. After the 2 weeks of classroom/lab training, you'll show what you've learned through a hands on weld test. During your training period you will be paid $18.00 hour as a Welder in Training. If you pass the test, we'll assign you to one of our experienced welding mentors on the production weld floor. Your mentor will help you apply your new skills to the parts we produce for our customers. They'll keep a close eye on you and make sure your welding meets our quality standards. After this 3 week hands on training, your supervisor will assess your skills and if you meet expectations in all areas, you'll be promoted to Welder, and your pay will increase to $22.00 hour.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Perfect attendance during Weld School is a must
- Flexibility and willingness to work the shifts and schedules needed
- Drive and motivation to learn and continually improve
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Qualities and characteristics
- Strong Work Ethic
- Attention to detail
- Listens well, takes feedback and seeks to improve
We've got Weld School classes starting up every month. Please apply online to speak to a Recruiter to learn more about the selection process for an upcoming Weld School. We look forward to seeing you in the Weld Lab soon!
INTRODUCTION
Stoughton Trailers is looking for employees who are interested in becoming welders at our Stoughton plant. We pay you while we teach you how to weld. If you've always wanted to learn a skilled trade that's in high demand, this is the opportunity you've been looking for.
ROLE
Weld School at Stoughton Trailers starts with 2 weeks of classroom/weld lab training where you'll learn about the basics of welding, the equipment used techniques utilized, weld machine settings, how to read blueprints, and so much more. Most importantly you'll work with our expert Weld Instructors who will show you how to weld, and work with you to improve your skills. After the 2 weeks of classroom/lab training, you'll show what you've learned through a hands on weld test. During your training period you will be paid $18.00 hour as a Welder in Training. If you pass the test, we'll assign you to one of our experienced welding mentors on the production weld floor. Your mentor will help you apply your new skills to the parts we produce for our customers. They'll keep a close eye on you and make sure your welding meets our quality standards. After this 3 week hands on training, your supervisor will assess your skills and if you meet expectations in all areas, you'll be promoted to Welder, and your pay will increase to $22.00 hour.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Perfect attendance during Weld School is a must
- Flexibility and willingness to work the shifts and schedules needed
- Drive and motivation to learn and continually improve
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Qualities and characteristics
- Strong Work Ethic
- Attention to detail
- Listens well, takes feedback and seeks to improve
We've got Weld School classes starting up every month. Please apply online to speak to a Recruiter to learn more about the selection process for an upcoming Weld School. We look forward to seeing you in the Weld Lab soon!
See all 22+ Welder jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Welder
Verify your welding credentials translate correctly
U.S. host employers and designated sponsors assess foreign welding certifications against AWS or ASME standards. Get your credentials evaluated before applying so your training plan accurately reflects your qualification level and avoids delays at the DS-2019 stage.
Distinguish Intern from Trainee category eligibility
The J-1 Intern category requires current enrollment in a post-secondary program. If you've already graduated and have welding work experience, the Trainee category applies instead. Applying under the wrong category will cause your designated sponsor to reject the training plan outright.
Target host employers with existing DS-2019 experience
Use Migrate Mate to identify U.S. manufacturing and fabrication employers that have previously hosted J-1 exchange visitors. Hosts familiar with the DS-2019 process move faster and are less likely to abandon the placement once they understand the sponsor organization's compliance requirements.
Draft a skills-specific training plan before outreach
Designated sponsors require a detailed Training or Internship Placement Plan (DS-7002) before issuing a DS-2019. Prepare a draft that lists your welding techniques, equipment experience, and learning objectives by phase. Arriving with this document ready signals to host employers that you understand the J-1 structure.
Confirm the host site meets DOL health and safety standards
Designated sponsors are required to verify that host worksites comply with applicable occupational safety regulations before approving a welding placement. Ask the employer upfront whether their facility has hosted J-1 trainees before and whether they've completed a prior site assessment with a sponsor organization.
Check whether your home country triggers a two-year requirement
Some J-1 participants must return home for two years before changing to certain other U.S. visa categories. This requirement is tied to government funding or skills-list designation, not the welding occupation itself. Review your DS-2019 and passport visa stamp carefully with your designated sponsor before accepting a placement.
Welder jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Welder JobsWelder J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to welders?
Most welders use the J-1 Trainee category if they have a relevant degree or at least one year of post-degree work experience in welding or a related trade. Current post-secondary students pursuing a welding or manufacturing program may qualify under the J-1 Intern category instead. The designated sponsor organization, not the host employer, makes the final category determination based on your background.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a welding placement?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT, that issues your DS-2019 form and oversees program compliance. The company where you perform welding work is called the host employer, not the sponsor. The host agrees to your training plan and provides the worksite, but cannot issue J-1 documentation on its own.
How do I find U.S. employers willing to host a J-1 welder?
Search Migrate Mate to identify manufacturing, fabrication, and construction employers that have previously engaged with exchange visitor programs. Because J-1 hosting requires a formal training plan and sponsor oversight, targeting employers who already understand the process significantly improves your chances of receiving a placement offer that can proceed to the DS-2019 stage.
Does the J-1 Trainee program have a cap or lottery like the H-1B?
No. The J-1 visa has no annual cap and no lottery. Placements are approved on a rolling basis once a designated sponsor reviews and approves your training plan and the host employer's worksite. The practical limit is finding a willing host and a sponsor willing to take on your case, not a government quota.
Can a J-1 welding trainee work on independent job tasks or only structured training?
J-1 Trainee regulations require that the placement be structured as a training program with defined learning objectives, not ongoing production employment. Your DS-7002 training plan must break your welding activities into phases tied to skill development goals. A placement where you function purely as a production welder without a training component will not satisfy program requirements and risks termination of your J-1 status.
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