Regulatory Affairs Specialist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Regulatory Affairs Specialist roles qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B visa, E-3 visa, and TN visa categories, making employer sponsorship achievable for candidates with life sciences, pharmacy, or engineering degrees. Many sponsors file LCAs well before a position is posted publicly, so knowing where to look gives you a real advantage. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsTotal Rewards:
OSF HealthCare is dedicated to provide Mission Partners with a comprehensive and market-competitive total rewards package that includes benefits, compensation, recognition and well-being offerings that focus on the whole person and engage with their current stage of life and career. Click here to learn more about benefits and the total rewards at OSF.
Expected pay for this position is $36.94 - $43.46/hour. Actual pay will be determined by experience, skills and internal equity. This is a Salaried position.
Position Summary:
The Regulatory Affairs Specialist serves as the subject matter expert (SME) for all accreditation, certification, and regulatory programs (e.g., TJC, IDPH, specialty certifications) and is accountable for providing feedback to operating units for continuous survey readiness and sustained compliance. This role leads mock surveys, tracers, and readiness assessments; prepares and submits regulatory violation responses; facilitates recovery and performance improvement efforts; and monitors corrective action plans for completion and effectiveness. In partnership with clinical and operational leaders, the Specialist proactively identifies regulatory risk, develops and communicates an annual risk assessment to prioritize high-risk monitoring, and serves as a primary liaison during surveys and certifications. The role provides expert regulatory guidance and supports quality, safety, and compliance goals.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Bachelor’s degree in a clinical field
Experience: 2 years of practice in healthcare area of expertise
Other Skills/ Knowledge:
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Solid computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft software.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to be detail oriented.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Licensure/ Certification: Active RN license, current state license in field of study, Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS), and/or Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
OSF HealthCare is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Total Rewards:
OSF HealthCare is dedicated to provide Mission Partners with a comprehensive and market-competitive total rewards package that includes benefits, compensation, recognition and well-being offerings that focus on the whole person and engage with their current stage of life and career. Click here to learn more about benefits and the total rewards at OSF.
Expected pay for this position is $36.94 - $43.46/hour. Actual pay will be determined by experience, skills and internal equity. This is a Salaried position.
Position Summary:
The Regulatory Affairs Specialist serves as the subject matter expert (SME) for all accreditation, certification, and regulatory programs (e.g., TJC, IDPH, specialty certifications) and is accountable for providing feedback to operating units for continuous survey readiness and sustained compliance. This role leads mock surveys, tracers, and readiness assessments; prepares and submits regulatory violation responses; facilitates recovery and performance improvement efforts; and monitors corrective action plans for completion and effectiveness. In partnership with clinical and operational leaders, the Specialist proactively identifies regulatory risk, develops and communicates an annual risk assessment to prioritize high-risk monitoring, and serves as a primary liaison during surveys and certifications. The role provides expert regulatory guidance and supports quality, safety, and compliance goals.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Bachelor’s degree in a clinical field
Experience: 2 years of practice in healthcare area of expertise
Other Skills/ Knowledge:
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Solid computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft software.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to be detail oriented.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Licensure/ Certification: Active RN license, current state license in field of study, Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS), and/or Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
OSF HealthCare is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
See all 748+ Regulatory Affairs Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Map your degree to the role clearly
Regulatory Affairs sits at the intersection of science, law, and compliance, so USCIS needs to see a direct link between your degree field and the job duties. A pharmacy, chemistry, biology, or biomedical engineering degree typically satisfies specialty occupation requirements without an RFE.
Use O*NET to frame your credentials
O*NET lists the knowledge domains and typical education level for Regulatory Affairs Specialists. Cross-referencing your resume against those domains helps you articulate, in USCIS language, why your background qualifies as a specialty occupation before your employer files.
Target FDA-regulated industries with LCA history
Pharma, medical device, biotech, and food manufacturing companies file LCAs regularly for Regulatory Affairs roles. Searching for employers with verified sponsorship history on Migrate Mate saves you from applying to companies that have never navigated the process before.
Ask about PERM timing during salary negotiation
If you're targeting a green card, PERM requires the offered wage to meet DOL prevailing wage. Negotiating your salary above that threshold from day one avoids a wage amendment later, which can delay your PERM filing by months.
Verify prevailing wage before accepting an offer
Use the OFLC Wage Search to confirm that your offered salary meets the Level I or Level II prevailing wage for your location. Employers sometimes calibrate offers to the minimum, which affects your LCA certification and can limit future wage-based green card filings.
Clarify which visa pathway your employer prefers early
Australian nationals have the E-3 option, which skips the H-1B lottery entirely. Canadians and Mexicans can explore TN if the role maps to an eligible USMCA profession. Raising this in the first HR conversation lets the employer prepare the right filing before your start date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Regulatory Affairs Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. USCIS treats Regulatory Affairs Specialist positions as specialty occupations when the employer can demonstrate the role normally requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a directly related field, such as pharmacy, life sciences, chemistry, or biomedical engineering. Generic business or unrelated degrees typically won't satisfy the requirement without additional documentation linking your coursework to the specific duties in the job description.
Which visa types are realistic for international Regulatory Affairs Specialists in the U.S.?
H-1B is the most common pathway, though it's subject to an annual cap and selection process. Australian nationals can pursue the E-3, which has a 10,500 annual cap that has never been exhausted and requires no lottery. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify for TN visa status if the role fits an eligible USMCA profession. All three require an LCA filed by the employer certifying the prevailing wage.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor visas for Regulatory Affairs roles?
Migrate Mate lists U.S. employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for Regulatory Affairs Specialists, searchable by location and role. This shows you which companies have already navigated the filing process, so you're targeting employers who understand sponsorship rather than ones encountering it for the first time.
Does my foreign pharmacy or life sciences degree qualify me for visa sponsorship in this field?
Foreign degrees are generally accepted by USCIS if they're equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's in a related field. A credential evaluation from a recognized credential assessment organization, such as those accepted by USCIS, can establish equivalency. If your degree is a three-year program, a combination of coursework and relevant work experience may satisfy the specialty occupation threshold depending on the evaluator's assessment and the employer's job description.
Can I switch employers while on H-1B status as a Regulatory Affairs Specialist?
Yes. Under H-1B portability, you can start working for a new employer once they file a new H-1B petition on your behalf, without waiting for USCIS to approve it. The new employer must file an I-129 petition and an LCA at the prevailing wage for your new location and role level. Your prior approval period doesn't transfer, so the new employer is essentially sponsoring you fresh within your existing status.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Regulatory Affairs Specialist 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.