Laboratory Assistant Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Laboratory assistants are among the more straightforward roles to get H-1B visa or E-3 visa sponsorship for, provided your degree is in a life science, chemistry, or biology field. Many hospitals, biotech firms, and research universities sponsor regularly for this role. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
In an environment of continuous quality improvement, the Laboratory Assistant is responsible for receiving and processing specimens, cleaning lab equipment, maintaining supplies and performing various clerical duties. Exhibits the MHS Standards of Excellence and exercises strict confidentiality at all times.
JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Receives Laboratory samples and checks them for order accuracy. Troubleshoots as needed.
- Utilizes the ability to prioritize STAT, urgent, timed and routine orders.
- Maintains/orders adequate stock of supplies.
- Utilizes the computer system that communicates between our outlying facilities and Meditech. Performs, orders and/or sends orders from the Atlas and Quest system to Meditech.
- Registers using short form and order appropriate tests.
- Labels, receives, centrifuges if needed, and aliquots tubes appropriately.
- Assists with lab clerical duties including recalling results, faxing reports, and calling of alert values to physicians.
- Evaluates specimen integrity before analysis.
- Properly documents and reports NCE investigation/incident reports.
- Assists with training new employees and students.
- Cleans lab equipment including centrifuges, counters, and printers.
- Utilizes Meditech to create site batches for specimen transport/order entry into Quest system.
- Retrieves specimens from the Laboratory Automated Specimen Transport Line.
- Assumes all other duties and responsibilities as necessary.
MINIMUM EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
- High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent required.
- Minimum of 1 year hospital phlebotomy experience preferred.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required – will obtain during hospital orientation.
- Maintains compliance in RQI required.
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, TRAINING:
- Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Able to speak English clearly.
- Handle multiple tasks simultaneously and work in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong independent problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrate willingness to accept additional responsibility with a positive attitude.
- Demonstrate ability to work independently and with a team.
- Demonstrate good data entry skills.
- Able to operate basic office equipment.
- Basic understanding of the operations of Specimen Processing.
- Basic PC skills.
COMPENSATION DETAILS:
Education, experience, and tenure may be considered along with internal equity when job offers are extended.
BENEFITS:
Memorial Health System is proud to offer an affordable, comprehensive benefit package to all full time and flex time employees.
BONUS ELIGIBILITY:
Available to qualifying full or flex time employees. Eligibility will be determined upon offer.
Memorial Health System is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Memorial Health System is a federal drug-free workplace. This policy prohibits marijuana use by employees.
INTRODUCTION
In an environment of continuous quality improvement, the Laboratory Assistant is responsible for receiving and processing specimens, cleaning lab equipment, maintaining supplies and performing various clerical duties. Exhibits the MHS Standards of Excellence and exercises strict confidentiality at all times.
JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Receives Laboratory samples and checks them for order accuracy. Troubleshoots as needed.
- Utilizes the ability to prioritize STAT, urgent, timed and routine orders.
- Maintains/orders adequate stock of supplies.
- Utilizes the computer system that communicates between our outlying facilities and Meditech. Performs, orders and/or sends orders from the Atlas and Quest system to Meditech.
- Registers using short form and order appropriate tests.
- Labels, receives, centrifuges if needed, and aliquots tubes appropriately.
- Assists with lab clerical duties including recalling results, faxing reports, and calling of alert values to physicians.
- Evaluates specimen integrity before analysis.
- Properly documents and reports NCE investigation/incident reports.
- Assists with training new employees and students.
- Cleans lab equipment including centrifuges, counters, and printers.
- Utilizes Meditech to create site batches for specimen transport/order entry into Quest system.
- Retrieves specimens from the Laboratory Automated Specimen Transport Line.
- Assumes all other duties and responsibilities as necessary.
MINIMUM EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
- High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent required.
- Minimum of 1 year hospital phlebotomy experience preferred.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required – will obtain during hospital orientation.
- Maintains compliance in RQI required.
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, TRAINING:
- Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Able to speak English clearly.
- Handle multiple tasks simultaneously and work in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong independent problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrate willingness to accept additional responsibility with a positive attitude.
- Demonstrate ability to work independently and with a team.
- Demonstrate good data entry skills.
- Able to operate basic office equipment.
- Basic understanding of the operations of Specimen Processing.
- Basic PC skills.
COMPENSATION DETAILS:
Education, experience, and tenure may be considered along with internal equity when job offers are extended.
BENEFITS:
Memorial Health System is proud to offer an affordable, comprehensive benefit package to all full time and flex time employees.
BONUS ELIGIBILITY:
Available to qualifying full or flex time employees. Eligibility will be determined upon offer.
Memorial Health System is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Memorial Health System is a federal drug-free workplace. This policy prohibits marijuana use by employees.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Laboratory Assistant
Target research universities and academic medical centers
Universities and academic hospitals like Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, and UCSF sponsor laboratory assistants more consistently than private employers. These institutions have dedicated HR and immigration departments experienced with H-1B and J-1 visa filings.
Make sure your degree field matches the lab's specialty
H-1B approval depends on specialty occupation status. A biochemistry degree supports a molecular biology lab role convincingly. A general science degree supporting a highly specialized lab position may face additional USCIS scrutiny during adjudication.
Highlight any lab-specific certifications in your application
Certifications like ASCP or AMT credentials signal professional credibility to U.S. employers and strengthen the specialty occupation argument in your H-1B petition. They're not required, but they remove friction from both the hiring and sponsorship decisions.
Confirm the employer has sponsored before before applying
Not every lab will sponsor visas. Before investing significant time in an application, confirm the employer has a history of filing H-1B or E-3 petitions. Prior sponsorship is a strong indicator they understand the process and costs involved.
Ask about cap-exempt H-1B sponsorship at qualifying institutions
Laboratories affiliated with universities, nonprofit research organizations, or government institutions may qualify as cap-exempt H-1B employers. This means no lottery wait, and you can start as soon as USCIS approves your petition, year-round.
Australian nationals should prioritize the E-3 visa pathway
The E-3 visa skips the H-1B lottery entirely and allows year-round applications. For Australian laboratory assistants with a qualifying degree, it's a faster and more predictable route into a sponsored U.S. lab position than H-1B.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a laboratory assistant role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It depends on the specific role and employer. A laboratory assistant position that requires a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or a related life science typically qualifies as a specialty occupation. The key is that the job description must specify a degree requirement in a particular field, not just any bachelor's degree. Generalist lab support roles where any science degree will do are harder to approve.
Which visa types are most commonly used to sponsor laboratory assistants?
H-1B visa is the most common pathway, used by biotech companies, hospitals, and research institutions. Australian nationals have access to the E-3 visa, which bypasses the H-1B lottery and allows year-round applications. J-1 visas are also used for research-focused lab roles at universities, though J-1 comes with a two-year home residency requirement for some participants. Browse sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate to see which visa types specific labs are actively filing.
What degree do I need to get visa sponsorship as a laboratory assistant?
Most H-1B petitions for laboratory assistant roles require at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field, such as biochemistry, microbiology, chemistry, clinical laboratory science, or biology. A degree in a loosely related field combined with relevant work experience can sometimes support a petition, but the closer the degree field is to the lab's specialty, the stronger the case. Three years of directly relevant experience can substitute for one year of education under the H-1B equivalency rules.
Are H-1B approval rates high for laboratory assistant positions?
Approval rates for laboratory and life science roles have historically been above average compared to some other occupational categories, particularly when filed by established research institutions or hospitals with experienced immigration counsel. The specialty occupation argument is generally well-supported when the role requires discipline-specific knowledge. Cap-exempt employers, such as universities and nonprofit research organizations, face no lottery risk, which significantly improves the practical odds for lab roles at those institutions.
How do I find laboratory assistant jobs that offer visa sponsorship?
Most general job boards don't filter specifically for visa sponsorship, which means significant time spent on listings that won't sponsor. Migrate Mate is built specifically for international job seekers and filters roles by sponsorship willingness, so you can focus your applications on labs and employers already open to H-1B or E-3 candidates. Academic medical centers, biotech clusters in Boston and San Francisco, and government research labs are the most consistent sponsoring environments to target.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Laboratory Assistant 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.