Public Relations Intern Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Public relations intern roles in the U.S. can come with H-1B visa or OPT sponsorship, but competition is real and most openings require a degree in communications, PR, or a related field. International applicants on F-1 visas can start on OPT before pursuing employer sponsorship. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsABOUT LATHAM & WATKINS:
Latham & Watkins is one of the world’s leading global law firms advising the businesses and institutions that drive the global economy. We are the market leaders in major financial and business centers around the world. Our investment in people, commitment to innovation, and focus on the future empower you to build an incredible career and thrive as an exceptional professional in a supportive culture. If you aspire to be the best, and work with the best, this is where you belong.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Public Relations Senior Manager - Operations is an integral part of Latham’s Brand & Communications team. This role will be responsible for serving as the operational lead for the firm’s global press office, ensuring PR programs are delivered consistently, efficiently, and at a high standard globally, while managing work intake, priorities, and resources across regions, practices, industries, and time zones to ensure timely, consistent, high-quality delivery support. This role will be located in our New York office. Please note that this role may be eligible for a flexible working schedule that allows for a hybrid and in-office presence.
Responsibilities:
Other key responsibilities include:
- Designing, implementing, and improving PR processes, systems, and tools, including the use of AI to increase efficiency, streamline workflows, and enhance service delivery
- Managing relationships with vendors who support operations, including media monitoring, media databases, content aggregators, among others
- Supporting consistent execution across the PR function by maintaining operational standards, guidance, and best practices
- Developing and maintaining team guidance, playbooks, protocols, and messaging resources to promote consistency across the global PR function
- Overseeing global PR reporting and performance metrics, producing dashboards, identifying trends, and recommending improvements to systems, efficiency, and impact
- Protecting and maintaining any highly sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and/or proprietary information that Latham & Watkins retains
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
We’d love to hear from you if you:
- Display deep knowledge of public relations operations and press office best practices, including media relations workflows, editorial planning, monitoring and reporting, and issue vetting
- Possess demonstrated ability to design, implement, and improve operational systems and processes, with expertise in project and resource management tools (e.g., Asana), and proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, Teams, and AI-enabled tools
- Exhibit experience managing enterprise PR technologies and vendor relationships, including media monitoring and database platforms, editorial calendars, content aggregators, and awards programs
And have:
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent, preferably in Communications, Public Relations, or Journalism
- A master’s degree or equivalent
- A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant public relations experience in an in-house or agency environment
- A minimum of ten (10) years of cumulative experience
- Professional experience in and familiarity with the legal industry, preferably
BENEFITS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Successful candidates will not only be provided with an outstanding career opportunity and welcoming environment, but will also be provided with a generous total compensation package with bonuses awarded in recognition of both individual and firm performance. Eligible employees can participate in Latham’s comprehensive benefit program which includes:
- Healthcare, life and disability insurance
- A generous 401k plan
- At least 11 paid holidays per year, and a PTO program that accrues 23 days during the first year of employment and grows with tenure
- Well-being programs (e.g. mental health services, mindfulness and resiliency, medical resources, well-being events, and more)
- Professional development programs
- Employee discounts
- Affinity groups, networks, and coalitions for lawyers and staff
Latham & Watkins is an equal opportunity employer. The Firm prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status (including veterans of the Vietnam era), gender expression, marital status, or any other characteristic or condition protected by applicable statute.
Please click here to review your rights under U.S. employment laws. #MidSenior
PAY RANGE:
USD $180,000.00 - USD $235,000.00 /Yr.
ABOUT LATHAM & WATKINS:
Latham & Watkins is one of the world’s leading global law firms advising the businesses and institutions that drive the global economy. We are the market leaders in major financial and business centers around the world. Our investment in people, commitment to innovation, and focus on the future empower you to build an incredible career and thrive as an exceptional professional in a supportive culture. If you aspire to be the best, and work with the best, this is where you belong.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Public Relations Senior Manager - Operations is an integral part of Latham’s Brand & Communications team. This role will be responsible for serving as the operational lead for the firm’s global press office, ensuring PR programs are delivered consistently, efficiently, and at a high standard globally, while managing work intake, priorities, and resources across regions, practices, industries, and time zones to ensure timely, consistent, high-quality delivery support. This role will be located in our New York office. Please note that this role may be eligible for a flexible working schedule that allows for a hybrid and in-office presence.
Responsibilities:
Other key responsibilities include:
- Designing, implementing, and improving PR processes, systems, and tools, including the use of AI to increase efficiency, streamline workflows, and enhance service delivery
- Managing relationships with vendors who support operations, including media monitoring, media databases, content aggregators, among others
- Supporting consistent execution across the PR function by maintaining operational standards, guidance, and best practices
- Developing and maintaining team guidance, playbooks, protocols, and messaging resources to promote consistency across the global PR function
- Overseeing global PR reporting and performance metrics, producing dashboards, identifying trends, and recommending improvements to systems, efficiency, and impact
- Protecting and maintaining any highly sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and/or proprietary information that Latham & Watkins retains
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
We’d love to hear from you if you:
- Display deep knowledge of public relations operations and press office best practices, including media relations workflows, editorial planning, monitoring and reporting, and issue vetting
- Possess demonstrated ability to design, implement, and improve operational systems and processes, with expertise in project and resource management tools (e.g., Asana), and proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, Teams, and AI-enabled tools
- Exhibit experience managing enterprise PR technologies and vendor relationships, including media monitoring and database platforms, editorial calendars, content aggregators, and awards programs
And have:
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent, preferably in Communications, Public Relations, or Journalism
- A master’s degree or equivalent
- A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant public relations experience in an in-house or agency environment
- A minimum of ten (10) years of cumulative experience
- Professional experience in and familiarity with the legal industry, preferably
BENEFITS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Successful candidates will not only be provided with an outstanding career opportunity and welcoming environment, but will also be provided with a generous total compensation package with bonuses awarded in recognition of both individual and firm performance. Eligible employees can participate in Latham’s comprehensive benefit program which includes:
- Healthcare, life and disability insurance
- A generous 401k plan
- At least 11 paid holidays per year, and a PTO program that accrues 23 days during the first year of employment and grows with tenure
- Well-being programs (e.g. mental health services, mindfulness and resiliency, medical resources, well-being events, and more)
- Professional development programs
- Employee discounts
- Affinity groups, networks, and coalitions for lawyers and staff
Latham & Watkins is an equal opportunity employer. The Firm prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status (including veterans of the Vietnam era), gender expression, marital status, or any other characteristic or condition protected by applicable statute.
Please click here to review your rights under U.S. employment laws. #MidSenior
PAY RANGE:
USD $180,000.00 - USD $235,000.00 /Yr.
See all 1,417+ Public Relations Intern Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Public Relations Intern roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Public Relations Intern
Target agencies over in-house teams
PR agencies hire interns in larger cohorts and are more experienced navigating visa paperwork than most in-house corporate teams. Agencies with international clients are especially accustomed to sponsoring foreign national employees at the intern and entry level.
Lead with your OPT timeline upfront
Employers need to know how much runway they have before sponsorship becomes necessary. Being transparent about your OPT end date early in conversations prevents wasted time and signals that you've thought through the logistics on their behalf.
Highlight bilingual and multicultural skills
PR firms serving international clients or multilingual markets actively value interns who speak more than one language. Positioning your cultural fluency as a competitive asset makes sponsorship feel like an investment rather than an administrative burden for the employer.
Look for internships that convert to full-time roles
Sponsorship at the intern stage is rare. The more viable path is landing an internship that leads to a full-time offer, at which point the employer sponsors your H-1B. Ask hiring managers explicitly about conversion rates before accepting an offer.
Confirm your degree qualifies as a specialty occupation
H-1B eligibility requires the role to be a specialty occupation tied to a specific degree field. A PR internship supported by a communications, journalism, or marketing degree is a strong fit. A mismatch between your degree and the role weakens sponsorship eligibility significantly.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsorship-open internships
Not every internship posting discloses visa sponsorship availability. Migrate Mate filters specifically for roles open to international applicants, saving you the effort of applying to positions that will reject you at the sponsorship conversation before an offer is made.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a public relations internship sponsor an H-1B visa?
Yes, but it's uncommon at the intern level. Most H-1B visa sponsorship for PR roles happens when an internship converts to a full-time position. The role must qualify as a specialty occupation, which requires a direct connection between the job duties and a specific degree field like communications, public relations, or journalism. Larger PR agencies are most likely to have the infrastructure to sponsor.
Does a public relations intern role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Generally yes, if the internship requires a bachelor's degree in communications, PR, marketing, or a closely related field. The qualifying pattern USCIS looks for is a theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge. Generic internships that accept any degree regardless of field are harder to support. Your employer's immigration attorney will assess the specific job description before filing.
Can I work as a public relations intern on OPT or CPT?
Yes. F-1 students can work as PR interns through Curricular Practical Training during their degree or through Optional Practical Training after graduation. CPT requires the internship to be directly tied to your program of study. OPT gives you up to 12 months of post-graduation work authorization, extendable to 36 months for STEM fields, though PR itself is not a STEM designation.
What degree do I need to get visa sponsorship for a PR internship?
A bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, journalism, or marketing is the strongest foundation for sponsorship eligibility. Some employers also accept degrees in English or business with a concentration relevant to PR. If your degree is in an unrelated field, three years of documented work experience can substitute for one year of education, though this is harder to apply at the intern level.
Where can I find public relations internships open to international applicants?
Migrate Mate lists internships and entry-level PR roles specifically filtered for visa sponsorship openness, so you're not wasting applications on positions that won't consider international candidates. PR agencies with global clients, entertainment companies, and large consumer brands tend to appear most frequently as sponsorship-willing employers in this category.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Public Relations Intern 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.