Research Scientist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship

Research scientist positions qualify for H-1B, O-1, and EB-2/EB-3 green card sponsorship based on the specialized knowledge requirement. Most research roles meet specialty occupation criteria through advanced degree requirements, though postdoc positions may face additional scrutiny regarding nonimmigrant intent. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.

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Overview

Open Jobs3,492+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type88% On-site
Salary Range$116K – $316K
Top LocationSan Francisco, CA
Most JobsMeta

Showing 5 of 3,492+ research scientist jobs

Amazon.com
Sr. Research Scientist
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Amazon.com
New 6m ago
Sr. Research Scientist
Amazon.com
San Diego, California
Data Science & Analytics
Software Engineering
Business Analysis
Project & Program Management
Data Science
Project Management
$143,300/yr - $247,600/yr
On-Site
5+ yrs exp.
Doctorate
10,000+

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Amazon Web Services
Research Scientist Intern
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Amazon Web Services
New 21m ago
Research Scientist Intern
Amazon Web Services
Pasadena, California
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
$136,000/yr - $212,800/yr
Hybrid
Doctorate

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California Institute of Technology
Associate Research Scientist
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California Institute of Technology
New 2h ago
Associate Research Scientist
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, California
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Clinical Trials
$79,700/yr - $90,000/yr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Doctorate
1,001-5,000

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Google
Research Scientist
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Google
New 3h ago
Research Scientist
Google
Goleta, California
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Physics & Space Science
$147,000/yr - $211,000/yr
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
Doctorate
10,000+

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AbbVie
Principal Research Scientist I
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AbbVie
New 5h ago
Principal Research Scientist I
AbbVie
Worcester, Massachusetts
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Clinical Trials
$121,000/yr - $230,000/yr
On-Site
12+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

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How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Research Scientist

Target research-intensive employers

Universities, national labs, biotech companies, and pharmaceutical firms regularly sponsor visas. They understand the H-1B specialty occupation requirements and have established immigration processes for research positions.

Highlight your advanced degree relevance

Research scientist roles typically require master's or PhD degrees directly related to the field. Clearly connect your specific degree to the research area in applications.

Consider O-1 for distinguished researchers

If you have significant publications, citations, or awards, the O-1 visa may be faster than H-1B lottery. Research achievements often meet extraordinary ability criteria.

Document specialized research methodology

USCIS looks for specialized knowledge beyond general research skills. Emphasize unique techniques, proprietary methods, or cutting-edge technologies you'll use in the role.

Plan for postdoc visa challenges

Postdoc positions face heightened nonimmigrant intent scrutiny due to academic career progression expectations. Prepare to demonstrate ties to home country or clear departure plans.

Leverage academic collaboration networks

Research universities often have partnerships with international institutions. These connections can facilitate visa sponsorship conversations and demonstrate legitimate research collaborations for O-1 applications.

Research Scientist jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do research scientist positions qualify for H-1B sponsorship?

Yes, research scientist positions typically qualify for H-1B sponsorship as specialty occupations. Most require advanced degrees in specific scientific fields and involve specialized knowledge that meets USCIS requirements. University research positions have particularly strong approval rates.

What degree is required for research scientist visa sponsorship?

Most research scientist positions require a master's degree or higher in a relevant scientific field. The degree must directly relate to the research area - for example, a PhD in chemistry for chemical research roles. Some positions accept bachelor's degree plus equivalent experience.

Can postdoc researchers get H-1B sponsorship?

Yes, but postdoc positions face additional scrutiny regarding nonimmigrant intent. USCIS may question whether you plan to remain temporarily given academic career progression expectations. Universities typically sponsor postdocs successfully with proper documentation of temporary research objectives.

Are research scientists eligible for O-1 visas?

Research scientists with significant publications, citations, awards, or peer recognition may qualify for O-1 extraordinary ability visas. This includes principal investigators, published researchers with high citation counts, award recipients, or those with peer review experience for prestigious journals.

Which employers sponsor research scientist visas most frequently?

Universities, national laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, and biotech firms are the most common sponsors for research scientist visas. These employers understand specialty occupation requirements and have established immigration processes. Government research agencies and large corporations with R&D divisions also regularly sponsor.

What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Research Scientist 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.

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