Apprentice Mechanic Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Apprentice mechanic roles in the U.S. are hands-on, trade-based positions that sit outside the specialty occupation definition, so H-1B visa doesn't apply. Sponsorship most often comes through H-2B visa for temporary shop placements or employer-backed green card pathways for candidates with documented trade credentials and prior workshop experience.
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Get Access To All JobsDate: Nov 11, 2026
Location: NO PLATTE, NE, US, 68000
Reference Number: 4303
Department: Mechanical
Closing Date: Apply early as this job may be filled at any time.
Most communications will be done electronically. Please check email, including spam folders, daily.
If you wish to solicit an employee referral for this position, please ensure the employee submits the referral prior to submitting your application.
Rate of Pay: $35.31 per hour
Description
Join a team of Apprentice Diesel Mechanics who have been repairing a fleet of locomotives with Union Pacific over 150 years! Our apprentices inspect, diagnose issues, repair, and maintain the engine and mechanical components of diesel-electric locomotives, while working in and around our locomotive shops. We are powered by our people, will you join our team?
Accountabilities
- Conduct job briefings to ensure safe and effective coordination of activities and keep assigned work areas, tools, and equipment clean and in proper working order
- Repair, replace, or rebuild locomotive and diesel engine components as needed
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, contractors and/or customers and effectively handle controversy
- Prepare equipment and materials as needed, and efficiently operate the equipment including the following: measuring instruments (micrometers, tape measures, dial calipers); precision machines (drill and punch presses bench lathes); hand tools (drills, wrenches, grinders); and material handling equipment
- Diagnose diesel engine, air compressor, and other locomotive mechanical system malfunctions
- Communicate technical information, job briefing information, job procedure recommendations, and other work-related information through writing, in-person interaction, telephone, radio, and intercom
- Perform other duties as assigned
- Read, interpret, understand, and find written or electronic information from diagrams, schematics, blueprints, graphs, and charts, and input information as needed into a computer
- Inspect and service the diesel locomotive fleet in compliance with company, federal and industry standards
Qualifications - Required
- Basic keyboarding skills
- Ability to use both low precision (tape measure, hand level) AND high precision (caliper, electronic scale) instruments to get accurate measurements
- Valid driver's license
- Able to effectively work independently and in group settings
- Proficient verbal and written communication skills to deliver information to coworker(s) and supervisor(s)
- Able to extract relevant information from tables, charts, graphs, and text
- Able to perform basic arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and conversion of fractions into decimals and decimals into fractions to solve practical problems
- Able to take initiative and take responsibility for the timely and quality completion of one's tasks. Need to be open to change
- Able to understand and apply basic mechanical principles to solve mechanical problems
- Experience reading and understanding instructions (examples may include: operating and safety rules, bulletins, special instructions, and federal regulatory documents)
Qualifications - Preferred
Physical and Mental Job Requirements
Work Conditions
What we offer:
- A strengths-based, engagement-focused, and performance-oriented culture
- Ongoing learning, development, and Educational Assistance (including little to no out-of-pocket cost for online and in-person courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha)
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan with 40% match up to 5% (contribute 5% and UP will contribute 2%)
- Medical, dental and vision insurance, which are collectively bargained for through union membership
- Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs
Background Check Investigation
Medical Review
Equal Employment Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation
Date: Nov 11, 2026
Location: NO PLATTE, NE, US, 68000
Reference Number: 4303
Department: Mechanical
Closing Date: Apply early as this job may be filled at any time.
Most communications will be done electronically. Please check email, including spam folders, daily.
If you wish to solicit an employee referral for this position, please ensure the employee submits the referral prior to submitting your application.
Rate of Pay: $35.31 per hour
Description
Join a team of Apprentice Diesel Mechanics who have been repairing a fleet of locomotives with Union Pacific over 150 years! Our apprentices inspect, diagnose issues, repair, and maintain the engine and mechanical components of diesel-electric locomotives, while working in and around our locomotive shops. We are powered by our people, will you join our team?
Accountabilities
- Conduct job briefings to ensure safe and effective coordination of activities and keep assigned work areas, tools, and equipment clean and in proper working order
- Repair, replace, or rebuild locomotive and diesel engine components as needed
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, contractors and/or customers and effectively handle controversy
- Prepare equipment and materials as needed, and efficiently operate the equipment including the following: measuring instruments (micrometers, tape measures, dial calipers); precision machines (drill and punch presses bench lathes); hand tools (drills, wrenches, grinders); and material handling equipment
- Diagnose diesel engine, air compressor, and other locomotive mechanical system malfunctions
- Communicate technical information, job briefing information, job procedure recommendations, and other work-related information through writing, in-person interaction, telephone, radio, and intercom
- Perform other duties as assigned
- Read, interpret, understand, and find written or electronic information from diagrams, schematics, blueprints, graphs, and charts, and input information as needed into a computer
- Inspect and service the diesel locomotive fleet in compliance with company, federal and industry standards
Qualifications - Required
- Basic keyboarding skills
- Ability to use both low precision (tape measure, hand level) AND high precision (caliper, electronic scale) instruments to get accurate measurements
- Valid driver's license
- Able to effectively work independently and in group settings
- Proficient verbal and written communication skills to deliver information to coworker(s) and supervisor(s)
- Able to extract relevant information from tables, charts, graphs, and text
- Able to perform basic arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and conversion of fractions into decimals and decimals into fractions to solve practical problems
- Able to take initiative and take responsibility for the timely and quality completion of one's tasks. Need to be open to change
- Able to understand and apply basic mechanical principles to solve mechanical problems
- Experience reading and understanding instructions (examples may include: operating and safety rules, bulletins, special instructions, and federal regulatory documents)
Qualifications - Preferred
Physical and Mental Job Requirements
Work Conditions
What we offer:
- A strengths-based, engagement-focused, and performance-oriented culture
- Ongoing learning, development, and Educational Assistance (including little to no out-of-pocket cost for online and in-person courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha)
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan with 40% match up to 5% (contribute 5% and UP will contribute 2%)
- Medical, dental and vision insurance, which are collectively bargained for through union membership
- Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs
Background Check Investigation
Medical Review
Equal Employment Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as an Apprentice Mechanic
Document your trade credentials before applying
Gather your apprenticeship completion certificates, employer reference letters, and any trade-body registrations before you approach U.S. employers. USCIS and DOL both require evidence of relevant training when evaluating labor certification for trade-based roles.
Target shops with H-2B filing history
Dealerships, fleet maintenance companies, and equipment rental firms are the most active H-2B filers for mechanic positions. Search Migrate Mate to find employers with verified sponsorship history in automotive and heavy-equipment trades so you're not cold-applying.
Understand the H-2B temporary need requirement
H-2B sponsorship requires the employer to prove the mechanic role is temporary or seasonal, not permanent. Shops with a surge in seasonal farm or construction equipment servicing are more likely to satisfy DOL's temporary labor certification standard than year-round retail dealerships.
Check prevailing wages before salary negotiations
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the prevailing wage for your specific mechanic classification and the employer's county. DOL certifies the LCA or labor certification only if the offered wage meets that threshold, so knowing the number protects you during offer discussions.
Ask employers about PERM timing for permanent roles
If the position is ongoing rather than seasonal, an EB-3 green card through PERM is the realistic path. PERM labor certification requires the employer to run a recruitment process first, so ask how long they've been open to sponsoring and whether they've started that process.
Line up your O*NET task evidence early
The O*NET occupation profile for automotive service technicians lists specific tasks like diagnosing systems, using scan tools, and performing component overhauls. Build a portfolio or reference letters that map your actual work history to those listed tasks before the employer files any petition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an apprentice mechanic get visa sponsorship in the U.S.?
Yes, but not through the H-1B, which requires a specialty occupation degree. Apprentice mechanic roles are most commonly sponsored through H-2B for temporary or seasonal placements, or through an EB-3 unskilled or skilled worker green card for permanent positions. The employer must file the relevant DOL labor certification before any petition can proceed.
Does an apprentice mechanic need a degree for visa sponsorship?
No bachelor's degree is required. For H-2B, the employer needs to show a temporary labor need and that no qualified U.S. workers are available. For an EB-3 skilled worker green card, two or more years of training or experience in the trade is the standard threshold, not a formal degree.
How do I find employers willing to sponsor an apprentice mechanic visa?
Search Migrate Mate for employers with verified H-2B or green card sponsorship history in automotive and trade roles. Focus on fleet maintenance companies, equipment rental firms, and dealership groups, as these are the most active sponsors for mechanic classifications across the U.S.
What is the H-2B cap and how does it affect mechanic sponsorship?
H-2B has an annual cap of 66,000 visas, split into two allotments of 33,000 per half of the fiscal year. Cap numbers are released each October and April, and they fill quickly. Your employer needs to file the DOL temporary labor certification well in advance of the start date to stay ahead of cap exhaustion.
Can an apprentice mechanic switch from H-2B to a green card?
H-2B carries no dual intent, meaning you must maintain the intent to leave at the end of the authorized period. Transitioning to a green card while on H-2B is legally complex and generally requires leaving the U.S. and re-entering on an immigrant visa after PERM and an I-140 petition are approved. Consult an immigration attorney before attempting this path.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Apprentice Mechanic jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.