Public Relations Jobs for OPT Students

Public Relations roles qualify for F-1 OPT work authorization when the position requires a degree in communications, PR, journalism, or a related field. Most PR jobs fall under specialty occupation criteria, making them strong candidates for H-1B sponsorship after OPT. Your 12-month standard OPT period can extend to 36 months with a STEM-adjacent degree in certain cases.

See All Public Relations Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs695+
Top Visa TypeF-1 OPT
Work Type66% On-site
Salary Range$49K – $64K
Top LocationNew York, NY
Most JobsProsek Partners

Showing 5 of 695+ Public Relations jobs

University of Nevada, Reno
Student Worker - ASUN Assistant Director of Campus & Public Relations
We won't show you this job again
University of Nevada, Reno
New 10h ago
Student Worker - ASUN Assistant Director of Campus & Public Relations
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, Nevada
Content & Communications
Marketing
Communications
Public Relations (PR)
Not listed
On-Site
Associate's

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
twilio, inc.
Public Relations & Social Media Intern
We won't show you this job again
twilio, inc.
New 11h ago
Public Relations & Social Media Intern
twilio, inc.
Remote
Content & Communications
Brand & Social Media
Public Relations (PR)
Communications
Social Media Management
Not listed
Remote (US)
Associate's

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Twilio
Public Relations & Social Media Intern
We won't show you this job again
Twilio
Added 1d ago
Public Relations & Social Media Intern
Twilio
Remote
Content & Communications
Brand & Social Media
Public Relations (PR)
Communications
Social Media Management
Content Marketing
$24/hr - $29/hr
Remote (US)
Bachelor's
5,001-10,000

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Lani Cao Law Office
Public Relations Specialist
We won't show you this job again
Lani Cao Law Office
Added 1d ago
Public Relations Specialist
Lani Cao Law Office
Bellevue, Washington
Content & Communications
Brand & Social Media
Multimedia Production
Public Relations (PR)
Communications
Content Marketing
Social Media Management
Video Editing
$21.00/hr
On-Site
Master's

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Benjamin Moore
Public Relations, Events, & Partnerships Intern
We won't show you this job again
Benjamin Moore
Added 1d ago
Public Relations, Events, & Partnerships Intern
Benjamin Moore
Montvale, New Jersey
Content & Communications
Events & Tourism
Marketing
Public Relations (PR)
Event Planning
$20/hr - $22/hr
On-Site
None
1,001-5,000

Have you applied for this role?

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

See all 695+ Public Relations jobs

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

Get Access To All Jobs

How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Public Relations

Target agencies with established immigration programs

Large PR agencies like Edelman, Weber Shandwick, and Ketchum have HR infrastructure to support visa sponsorship. Smaller boutique agencies rarely have legal resources to sponsor, so prioritize firms with 200-plus employees.

Frame your international background as a PR asset

Bilingual skills and cross-cultural fluency are genuinely valuable in PR, especially for clients targeting international markets. Lead with this in your cover letter and interviews rather than treating your visa status as a liability to explain.

Understand your OPT authorization timeline before applying

Your OPT EAD card must be valid before you start work. Apply at least 90 days before your program end date. PR hiring timelines can be fast, so knowing your exact authorization window prevents offers from expiring.

Build a portfolio that demonstrates measurable outcomes

PR employers sponsoring OPT students want to see impact, not just tasks. Quantify results where possible: media placements secured, impressions earned, campaign reach. Concrete outcomes make sponsorship conversations easier to justify internally.

Ask about sponsorship directly but strategically

Raise the sponsorship question after receiving a verbal offer, not during initial screening. Phrase it as a process question: ask whether the company has sponsored H-1B visas before, which signals you know the system and are not a risky unknown.

Use Migrate Mate to find PR roles open to OPT candidates

Searching general job boards surfaces many roles that will not consider OPT students. Migrate Mate filters specifically for positions where employers are open to sponsorship, saving you from applying to roles that will not move forward.

Public Relations jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.

Find Public Relations Jobs

See all 695+ Public Relations jobs

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

Get Access To All Jobs

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Public Relations jobs qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B sponsorship?

Most PR roles qualify as specialty occupations because they typically require at minimum a bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or marketing. USCIS has approved H-1B petitions for PR specialists, account managers, and communications coordinators at agencies and in-house teams. Roles that accept any degree regardless of field are harder to support, so job titles with clear educational requirements strengthen the case.

Can I work in Public Relations on OPT if my degree is in a related field like marketing or journalism?

Yes. OPT authorizes you to work in a role directly related to your degree field, and PR has recognized overlap with communications, journalism, marketing, and even political science. Your OPT authorization documents your specific degree, so as long as the PR role connects to that field, you're in compliance. If you're unsure whether a role qualifies, confirm with your DSO before accepting an offer.

How do I find PR employers who are open to sponsoring OPT students?

The most efficient approach is to search Migrate Mate, which surfaces PR roles from employers who are open to OPT and visa sponsorship rather than filtering you out at the application stage. Beyond that, DOL LCA disclosure data shows which companies have filed H-1B petitions for PR roles in the past, giving you a concrete list of historically sponsoring employers to prioritize.

What happens to my OPT authorization if I'm laid off from a PR job?

F-1 OPT includes a 60-day unemployment grace period. If your PR role ends unexpectedly, you have 60 days to find new employment in a qualifying role before your OPT status is jeopardized. During this period, report any job change to your DSO immediately. If you don't secure a new position within the grace period, you'll need to depart the U.S. or explore a change of status.

Does freelance or contract PR work count toward my OPT employment requirement?

Yes, self-employment and contract work count toward OPT as long as the work is directly related to your degree field and you can document it. For PR, this means freelance media relations, content strategy, or communications consulting work qualifies. You'll need to maintain records showing the nature of the work, hours, and how it connects to your degree, since your DSO may ask for documentation.

See which Public Relations employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.

Search Public Relations Jobs