OPT Chef Jobs
Chef roles on OPT are available across restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and institutional kitchens. Most positions qualify as full-time employment, satisfying your OPT work authorization requirements. STEM OPT extension does not apply to culinary roles, so a 12-month planning window is standard for this field.
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- Department: Dietary
- Schedule: Full-Time, Days (6:00am - 2:30pm)
- Facility: Saint Francis Hospital
- Location: Evanston, IL 60202
Responsibilities:
- Establishes and oversees food production practices and kitchen operations to provide quality food service for patients, cafeteria visitors, physician dining and catered events.
- Provides staff education and development in the areas of culinary skills, food handling and sanitation practices.
- Supervises production employees as well as food service workers to ensure full compliance with federal, state and other regulatory agencies.
QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, TRAINING
- Five (5) years in healthcare food service with commercial, institutional cooking experience with two (2) years supervisory experience preferred
- Food Safety Certification from an accredited organization and maintain current.
- HAACP, CDM and/or CFPP certifications desired.
- Culinary degree or certification desired.
- Knowledge of therapeutic diets desired.
County Specific requirement. County Specific Food Handlers certification required upon hire and maintained current.
COMPENSATION:
Saint Francis Hospital offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package that provides employees the flexibility to tailor benefits according to their individual needs. Our Total Rewards package includes, but is not limited to, paid time off, a 401K retirement plan, medical, dental, and vision coverage, tuition reimbursement, and many more voluntary benefit options. A reasonable compensation estimate for this role, which includes estimated wages, benefits, and other forms of compensation, is $63,294.40 to $91,686.40 on an annualized basis. The exact starting compensation to be offered will be determined at the time of selecting an applicant for hire, in which a wide range of factors will be considered, including but not limited to, skillset, years of applicable experience, education, credentials and licensure.
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full Time
SHIFT: Days
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
Company is an equal employment opportunity employer. Company prohibits discrimination against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (subject to applicable law), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. The Company also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories.
Overview:
- Department: Dietary
- Schedule: Full-Time, Days (6:00am - 2:30pm)
- Facility: Saint Francis Hospital
- Location: Evanston, IL 60202
Responsibilities:
- Establishes and oversees food production practices and kitchen operations to provide quality food service for patients, cafeteria visitors, physician dining and catered events.
- Provides staff education and development in the areas of culinary skills, food handling and sanitation practices.
- Supervises production employees as well as food service workers to ensure full compliance with federal, state and other regulatory agencies.
QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, TRAINING
- Five (5) years in healthcare food service with commercial, institutional cooking experience with two (2) years supervisory experience preferred
- Food Safety Certification from an accredited organization and maintain current.
- HAACP, CDM and/or CFPP certifications desired.
- Culinary degree or certification desired.
- Knowledge of therapeutic diets desired.
County Specific requirement. County Specific Food Handlers certification required upon hire and maintained current.
COMPENSATION:
Saint Francis Hospital offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package that provides employees the flexibility to tailor benefits according to their individual needs. Our Total Rewards package includes, but is not limited to, paid time off, a 401K retirement plan, medical, dental, and vision coverage, tuition reimbursement, and many more voluntary benefit options. A reasonable compensation estimate for this role, which includes estimated wages, benefits, and other forms of compensation, is $63,294.40 to $91,686.40 on an annualized basis. The exact starting compensation to be offered will be determined at the time of selecting an applicant for hire, in which a wide range of factors will be considered, including but not limited to, skillset, years of applicable experience, education, credentials and licensure.
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full Time
SHIFT: Days
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
Company is an equal employment opportunity employer. Company prohibits discrimination against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (subject to applicable law), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. The Company also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories.
See all 493+ OPT Chef Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Chef
Target employers with structured culinary programs
Large hotel groups, restaurant chains, and catering companies are more familiar with OPT than independent kitchens. They have HR departments that understand work authorization timelines and are more likely to initiate H-1B visa or O-1 visa sponsorship for strong performers.
Apply early relative to your OPT start date
Most kitchens need chefs to start within two weeks of hiring. Apply at least 60 days before your OPT authorization begins so your start date aligns with when you're legally permitted to work without authorization gaps.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront with hiring managers
Executive chefs and food and beverage directors often make hiring decisions without HR involvement. Explain your OPT authorization window clearly early in the process so there are no surprises when a formal offer is extended and paperwork begins.
Document how your culinary degree connects to your role
OPT requires your employment to relate directly to your field of study. Keep records showing how your culinary arts, hospitality, or food science degree connects to your specific chef role in case your DSO or employer asks for clarification.
Track your work authorization end date carefully
Chef roles rarely fall under STEM OPT extension eligibility, meaning you have 12 months to demonstrate your value and prompt a sponsorship conversation. Mark your EAD expiration date and initiate that discussion with your employer at least six months out.
Highlight specialized skills that strengthen a sponsorship case
Fluency in a regional cuisine, pastry credentials, or experience at a Michelin-starred kitchen differentiates you from domestic candidates. Specialized expertise makes it easier for employers to justify the time and cost of H-1B or O-1 sponsorship.
Chef OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a chef on OPT?
Yes, as long as your chef role is directly related to your field of study. Graduates of culinary arts, hospitality management, or food science programs typically satisfy this requirement. Your DSO can confirm the connection is sufficient before you accept an offer. You must work at least 20 hours per week to remain in valid OPT status.
Do chef jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
No. Culinary arts and hospitality degrees are not on the STEM Designated Degree Program List, so the 24-month STEM OPT extension is not available for most chef roles. This means your OPT window is 12 months. Planning your sponsorship timeline around that constraint is important, and you should raise the H-1B or visa sponsorship conversation with your employer well before your EAD expires.
Will employers sponsor an H-1B visa for a chef?
Some do, but it requires clearing the specialty occupation hurdle, which means demonstrating that your specific chef role typically requires a bachelor's degree in a related field. Highly specialized positions such as executive chef, research and development chef, or culinary director at a large hospitality company are more defensible than general line cook roles. Working with an immigration attorney early strengthens the case.
Where can I find chef jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate lists chef roles from employers who are open to hiring international students and candidates on work authorization. Browsing Migrate Mate lets you filter for positions relevant to your OPT status rather than sifting through listings where sponsorship is not on the table. Applying through a platform designed for international candidates also signals to employers that you understand the process.
What counts as a valid chef job for OPT work authorization purposes?
Your position must be directly related to your degree program and must be at least 20 hours per week. A line cook role at a restaurant, a pastry chef position at a hotel, or a food production role at a catering company can all qualify depending on your degree field. Your DSO makes the official determination, so confirm the role description matches your academic background before reporting the job on your SEVP portal.