Sheet Metal Mechanic Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Sheet metal mechanic jobs in the U.S. can be sponsored through the H-2B visa for temporary roles or through EB-3 green card pathways for permanent positions. Employers in aerospace, HVAC, and construction regularly file Labor Condition Applications for this trade, making verified sponsorship history a practical filter when targeting companies.
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Get Access To All JobsWork Schedule and Training Requirements
- Candidates must be available to work any shift, including weekends.
- Training will take place on first shift, Monday through Friday, from 6:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
- Required availability to start: January 11.
Job Overview
- You will be part of the Production Structures/Assembler team supporting the Greenville Production Team.
- The team is responsible for the production, build, repair, and delivery of F-16 and C-130 aircraft to customers.
- As a Production Structures/Assembler, F-16/C-130 Technician, you will be responsible for interpreting blueprints, fabricating assemblies, and installing and repairing various sheet metal and structural assemblies and subassemblies for F-16/C-130 aircraft using sheet metal tools.
The role also requires knowledge of aircraft structural assembly operations and maintenance, including:
- Precision drilling and reaming.
- Riveting and installation of various fasteners.
- Light structural repair and replacement of thin skins.
- Aircraft structural assembly, installation, and repair activities.
General Requirements and Physical Demands
The candidate will be required to:
- Understand documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
- Use hands to grasp, handle, and/or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk; and hear.
- Frequently stand, walk, stoop, kneel, squat, crawl, twist, and work on or inside aircraft.
- Frequently lift, push, or pull up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift, push, or pull up to 50 pounds.
- Perform repetitive movements and work overhead.
- Work safely and efficiently while maintaining a clean, Foreign Object Debris (FOD) free work area.
- Properly use, handle, and dispose of hazardous materials and toxic or caustic chemicals in accordance with government regulations and company procedures.
- Mission essential functions and other duties may be assigned as required.
- Specific vision abilities required include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
- While performing essential job functions, employees will be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed to perform job tasks.
- Employees are regularly exposed to vibration.
Basic Qualifications
- F-16/C-130 specific structural experience or extensive experience with flight control work, including ailerons, rudders, flaps, etc.
- Experience with light structural repair and replacement of thin skins.
- 8+ years of aviation, heavy/light manufacturing, assembly, or repair experience.
- Basic understanding of manufacturing processes.
- Ability to perform assembly and installation work using assembly jigs, fixtures, test equipment, precision measuring instruments, and mechanics hand tools.
- Experience reading and interpreting written specifications, blueprints, and engineering drawings, including understanding symbols, flags, and general notes.
Desired Qualifications
- Heavy/light aircraft structural repair or aircraft sheet metal experience.
- Aircraft structural modification or heavy/light structures overhaul experience.
- Aircraft assembly, maintenance, and/or modification experience. Commercial experience will also be considered.
- Experience with drill reaming, countersinking, and hydraulic installations.
Pay
- Pay: $30.00 - $38.00 per hour
Expected hours
- Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Benefits
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s)
- How many Years of experience do you have working in an aerospace structural repair or Manufacturing environment?
Shift availability
- Day Shift (Preferred)
- Night Shift (Preferred)
- Overnight Shift (Preferred)
Ability to Commute
- Greenville, SC 29607 (Required)
Work Location
- In person
Work Schedule and Training Requirements
- Candidates must be available to work any shift, including weekends.
- Training will take place on first shift, Monday through Friday, from 6:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
- Required availability to start: January 11.
Job Overview
- You will be part of the Production Structures/Assembler team supporting the Greenville Production Team.
- The team is responsible for the production, build, repair, and delivery of F-16 and C-130 aircraft to customers.
- As a Production Structures/Assembler, F-16/C-130 Technician, you will be responsible for interpreting blueprints, fabricating assemblies, and installing and repairing various sheet metal and structural assemblies and subassemblies for F-16/C-130 aircraft using sheet metal tools.
The role also requires knowledge of aircraft structural assembly operations and maintenance, including:
- Precision drilling and reaming.
- Riveting and installation of various fasteners.
- Light structural repair and replacement of thin skins.
- Aircraft structural assembly, installation, and repair activities.
General Requirements and Physical Demands
The candidate will be required to:
- Understand documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
- Use hands to grasp, handle, and/or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk; and hear.
- Frequently stand, walk, stoop, kneel, squat, crawl, twist, and work on or inside aircraft.
- Frequently lift, push, or pull up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift, push, or pull up to 50 pounds.
- Perform repetitive movements and work overhead.
- Work safely and efficiently while maintaining a clean, Foreign Object Debris (FOD) free work area.
- Properly use, handle, and dispose of hazardous materials and toxic or caustic chemicals in accordance with government regulations and company procedures.
- Mission essential functions and other duties may be assigned as required.
- Specific vision abilities required include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
- While performing essential job functions, employees will be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed to perform job tasks.
- Employees are regularly exposed to vibration.
Basic Qualifications
- F-16/C-130 specific structural experience or extensive experience with flight control work, including ailerons, rudders, flaps, etc.
- Experience with light structural repair and replacement of thin skins.
- 8+ years of aviation, heavy/light manufacturing, assembly, or repair experience.
- Basic understanding of manufacturing processes.
- Ability to perform assembly and installation work using assembly jigs, fixtures, test equipment, precision measuring instruments, and mechanics hand tools.
- Experience reading and interpreting written specifications, blueprints, and engineering drawings, including understanding symbols, flags, and general notes.
Desired Qualifications
- Heavy/light aircraft structural repair or aircraft sheet metal experience.
- Aircraft structural modification or heavy/light structures overhaul experience.
- Aircraft assembly, maintenance, and/or modification experience. Commercial experience will also be considered.
- Experience with drill reaming, countersinking, and hydraulic installations.
Pay
- Pay: $30.00 - $38.00 per hour
Expected hours
- Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Benefits
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s)
- How many Years of experience do you have working in an aerospace structural repair or Manufacturing environment?
Shift availability
- Day Shift (Preferred)
- Night Shift (Preferred)
- Overnight Shift (Preferred)
Ability to Commute
- Greenville, SC 29607 (Required)
Work Location
- In person
See all Sheet Metal Mechanic Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Sheet Metal Mechanic
Document your trade certifications before applying
Sheet metal work falls under skilled trades, so gather SMWIA certifications, apprenticeship completion records, and any state journeyman licenses before outreach. Employers filing EB-3 petitions need these to satisfy PERM's documentation requirements for skilled workers.
Target aerospace and HVAC contractors specifically
Sheet metal mechanics in aerospace and commercial HVAC see the most consistent H-2B and EB-3 sponsorship activity. Union contractors affiliated with Sheet Metal Workers Local chapters often have established immigration workflows and sponsor foreign workers more routinely than residential outfits.
Search Migrate Mate for verified sponsoring employers
Migrate Mate lists U.S. employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for skilled trades roles, searchable by city and job type. This saves you from cold-calling contractors who have never filed for a foreign worker before.
Understand H-2B timing before accepting temporary offers
H-2B status is tied to a specific employer and a temporary need, capped at 66,000 visas annually. If you're offered a seasonal fabrication contract, confirm the employer filed a temporary labor certification with DOL before you plan your travel or resign from another position.
Verify prevailing wage alignment using OFLC Wage Search
Before your employer files a PERM labor certification or LCA, check the prevailing wage for Sheet Metal Workers in that metro area using OFLC Wage Search. A wage offer below the prevailing rate will delay or sink the petition at DOL review.
Get your foreign apprenticeship credentials evaluated early
If your trade training happened outside the U.S., USCIS requires a credential evaluation for EB-3 skilled worker petitions. A foreign-trained sheet metal apprentice with 2,000-plus hours documented can qualify, but the evaluation must predate the PERM filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What visa types are available for sheet metal mechanics seeking U.S. sponsorship?
Sheet metal mechanics most commonly pursue sponsorship through H-2B visa for temporary or seasonal fabrication contracts, or through the EB-3 skilled worker green card for permanent positions. H-2B requires the employer to demonstrate a temporary labor need and file with DOL. EB-3 requires PERM labor certification and at least two years of relevant trade experience, with no minimum degree requirement.
Does a sheet metal mechanic need a college degree to get visa sponsorship?
No. The EB-3 skilled worker category does not require a bachelor's degree. What USCIS requires is documented evidence of two or more years of training or experience in the trade. Apprenticeship completion certificates, journeyman cards, and employer letters confirming your hours all serve as qualifying evidence. A degree is not a substitute for trade documentation and is not needed.
How long does EB-3 sponsorship take for a skilled trades worker?
The EB-3 process for a sheet metal mechanic typically runs one to three years for the PERM and I-140 stages combined, before priority date backlogs are even factored in. Workers born in countries with high demand, like India or China, face significantly longer waits due to per-country limits. Workers from most other countries move through on the Rest of World timeline, which is currently current or close to it.
Where can I find sheet metal mechanic jobs with verified sponsorship history?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified LCA and sponsorship filing history for skilled trades roles including sheet metal mechanics. You can browse by location and filter for active sponsoring employers, which removes the guesswork of approaching contractors who have never filed for a foreign worker.
Can a sheet metal mechanic switch employers after sponsorship has started?
It depends on the visa type. On H-2B, you're tied to the sponsoring employer and the specific job certified by DOL. You can't transfer mid-status without a new petition. Under EB-3, once your I-140 is approved and your priority date is current, you have more portability options under AC21, which allows movement to a same or similar occupation without restarting the green card process from scratch.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Sheet Metal 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.