Veterinarian Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Veterinarians are actively sponsored across the U.S. due to a well-documented workforce shortage, with corporate veterinary groups like Mars Veterinary Health (Banfield, VCA), NVA, and Thrive Pet Healthcare filing H-1B visa petitions at scale for clinical veterinarians, and USDA-accredited food animal practitioners qualifying for special visa programs in rural shortage areas. The DVM or equivalent professional degree requirement makes H-1B specialty occupation classification straightforward, and Schedule A Group I designation has historically allowed veterinarians to bypass PERM labor certification for green card sponsorship.
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The pay range for this role is $120-$140/hour.
The pay range listed reflects a general hiring range for the area, with the specific rate determined based on the candidate’s experience, skill level, abilities, and education, and may vary depending on location.
Summary of Job Purpose and Function
The primary purpose and function of the Relief Veterinarian is to provide preventative care, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of Pets.
Essential Responsibilities and Tasks
- Ensure the Safety of Pets, clients and associates by utilizing safe restraining techniques, following standard protocols and maintaining clean, sterile and organized treatment areas, exam rooms and labs.
- Obtain relevant information and history from clients, and maintain proper and complete medical records.
- Educate clients about preventative care, Pet health needs, any diagnosis or treatment, hospital services and other related information.
- Provide professional, efficient and exceptional service including prescribing and administering preventative care for the wellness needs of Pets and diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries of Pets.
- Effectively communicate diagnosis and treatment plan to veterinary medical team and client.
- Ensure local, state and federal laws are followed, including proper maintenance of the controlled substance inventory log.
- Understand and follow state guidelines regarding duties of veterinary assistants and licensed veterinary technicians.
- Other job duties as assigned.
Hiring Qualifications
Capabilities and Experience (can do)
- Ability to multi-task - Manages multiple tasks at one time; quickly and accurately shifts attention among multiple tasks under distracting conditions without loss of accuracy or appearance of frustration.
- Communication skills - Reads, writes and speaks fluent English, using appropriate grammar, style and vocabulary. Correctly spells commonly used English words and job specific terms. Demonstrates exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Organizational ability - Demonstrates a systematic approach in carrying out assignments. Is very orderly and excels at cutting through confusion and turning chaos into order.
- Surgical skills - Proven ability to perform all basic surgeries, including use of all standard medical instruments and equipment.
- Problem solving skills - Demonstrates a strong ability to identify, analyze and solve problems. Unusually decisive in handling difficult problems. Translates problems into practical solutions.
- Client service skills - Consistently ensures the team provides the client with attentive, courteous and informative service. Gains and shows personal satisfaction from delivering great service.
- Intellectual ability - Accurately and consistently follows instructions delivered in an oral, written or diagram format. Can provide directions.
- Compassionate commitment to Pet care - Ensures hospital teams confidently present Pet treatment recommendations and associated fees as an advocate for the Pet, gaining the client's agreement to proceed with the treatment most appropriate to the Pet's current condition and long term health. Act as an advocate for the Pet.
- Mathematical ability - Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and to compute rate, ratio and percent; ability to convert units of measurement.
- Computer skills - Comfortably and confidently uses a computer and specialized software. Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, etc.
- Management ability - Effectively enforces policies. Achieves high productive output while maintaining high morale. Encourages efforts toward common goals. Understands and utilizes a coaching/counseling philosophy for performance management.
Attitudes (will do)
- Initiative - Shows willingness and aptitude to use own discretion in taking appropriate steps in finding solutions to problems; presents options and ideas to enhance current processes or procedures. Takes on additional responsibility when both big and small tasks need to be done.
- Integrity - Firmly adheres to the values and ethics of Banfield Pet Hospital. Exhibits honesty, discretion, and sound judgment.
- Cooperativeness - Willing to work with others, collaborating and compromising where necessary; promptly shares relevant information with others.
- Flexibility - Is open to changing situations and opportunities and is willing to perform all tasks assigned.
- Independence - Able and willing to perform tasks and duties without supervision.
- Tolerance for Stress / Resiliency - Maintains a positive "can do" outlook, rebounds quickly from frustrations and unpleasantness, and maintains composure and friendly demeanor while dealing with stressful situations.
Special Working Conditions
- Ability to be confident around Pets (i.e., dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.)
- Client needs and work volume may often require more than 40 hours per week to complete essential duties of this job. This position requires special hours including working weekends and evenings.
- Must have mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics and language ability (reading, writing, and speaking the English language) to perform the duties proficiently.
- The noise level in the work environment is moderately high.
- Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form and to solve problems involving several variables.
- Requires sufficient ambulatory skills in order to perform duties while at hospital.
- Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb as well as manipulate (lift, carry, move) up to 50 pounds.
- Requires good hand-eye coordination, finger-hand-arm dexterity with the ability to reach and grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard and operate equipment.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
- Associate is routinely exposed to a variety of Pets that may bite or scratch, and on occasion, exposed to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards and medication/controlled substances.
- Minimal travel required, possibly for vendor visits and associate education.
Experience, Education and/or Training
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) or equivalent degree required.
- License in good standing with the applicable state veterinary board.
- License with the Drug Enforcement Agency required.
- Proven ability to perform all basic surgeries, including use of all standard medical instruments and equipment.
BENEFITS
Here at Banfield, we prioritize your well-being and professional growth by offering a comprehensive total rewards package, including health, wellness, and financial support for you, your family, and even your pets. Check out some of our “Meow-velous” benefits to our Relief (Locum) Veterinarians:
- Commuter Benefits: Say goodbye to commuting stress with our commuter benefits, making your daily journey more convenient and cost-effective.
- Continuing Education Resources: Access to VetFolio for online CE courses, webinars, and conference proceedings from NAVC and AAHA, as well as access to the MVH Medical Library which provides access to 2000+ university-equivalent journals, 600+ textbooks, and biomedical databases.
- Three Free Optimum Wellness Plans for Pets: We care about your furry friends too! Enjoy three free wellness plans to ensure your pets receive the best preventive and general care.
- Exclusive Discounts: Unlock a world of savings with our wide variety of exclusive discounts on products and services, making life more affordable and enjoyable.
WE ARE A DRUG-FREE, SMOKE-FREE, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. Banfield Pet Hospital® strongly supports and values the uniqueness of all individuals and promotes a work environment where diversity is embraced. Banfield Pet Hospital is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability. Banfield Pet Hospital complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every Banfield location.
We believe that embracing inclusion and diversity enables us to live our Purpose:
A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Veterinarian Jobs
Corporate Veterinary Groups Are the Largest Sponsors
Banfield Pet Hospital (Mars), VCA Animal Hospitals (Mars), NVA, Thrive Pet Healthcare, and BluePearl sponsor hundreds of veterinarians annually through H-1B with established immigration teams. These groups operate thousands of clinics nationwide and have standardized sponsorship processes.
Pass the NAVLE Before Applying
The North American Veterinary Licensing Examination is required for state licensure in all 50 states, and you must pass before any employer can sponsor you for clinical practice. Foreign veterinary graduates must first obtain ECFVG certification from the AVMA or PAVE program completion to qualify for NAVLE eligibility.
Food Animal and Rural Practice Offers the Fastest Sponsorship
Large animal and mixed practice veterinarians in rural areas face the most severe shortages and receive the most aggressive sponsorship packages. USDA-accredited food animal practitioners may qualify for Conrad 30 J-1 waivers and USDA veterinary shortage programs that provide loan repayment up to $75,000.
Emergency and Specialty Hospitals Pay a Premium
BluePearl, MedVet, and Ethos Veterinary Health sponsor emergency veterinarians and specialists earning $130,000 to $200,000. Emergency and critical care veterinarians are in the most acute shortage within companion animal medicine and receive the fastest sponsorship approvals.
Schedule A May Expedite Green Card Processing
Veterinarians are included in Schedule A Group I, which has historically allowed employers to skip PERM labor certification and file green card petitions directly. While regulatory changes may apply, this designation reflects the documented national veterinary shortage and can significantly accelerate permanent residency.
University Veterinary Teaching Hospitals Offer Cap-Exempt H-1B
Veterinary teaching hospitals at Cornell, UC Davis, Colorado State, and other universities file cap-exempt H-1B for clinical faculty and hospital staff veterinarians. These positions combine clinical practice with teaching and offer year-round filing without lottery restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do veterinary clinics sponsor H-1B visas?
Yes, extensively. Banfield, VCA, NVA, Thrive, and BluePearl sponsor hundreds of veterinarians annually with established immigration teams. University veterinary hospitals file cap-exempt H-1B visa year-round. The DVM degree requirement makes specialty occupation classification straightforward.
How to find Veterinarian jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find veterinarian jobs with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international veterinary professionals with employers offering sponsorship. Focus on animal hospitals, veterinary clinics, research institutions, and government agencies that commonly sponsor H-1B, EB-2, or other work visas. These employers often need specialized veterinary expertise and are willing to sponsor qualified international candidates.
What is the typical salary for sponsored Veterinarian roles?
General practice veterinarians earn $95,000 to $130,000 at corporate groups. Emergency veterinarians earn $130,000 to $180,000. Specialists (surgery, internal medicine, oncology) earn $160,000 to $250,000. Rural and food animal practitioners earn $90,000 to $125,000 with sign-on bonuses and loan repayment.
What credentials do foreign-educated veterinarians need?
ECFVG certification from the AVMA or PAVE program completion is required to establish degree equivalency. After certification, you must pass the NAVLE and obtain state licensure. The ECFVG process includes the BCSE, CPE, and ECFVG-specific exams and takes 1 to 3 years to complete.
Can veterinarians get green cards through employer sponsorship?
Yes. Schedule A Group I designation has historically allowed employers to bypass PERM labor certification for veterinarians. EB-2 and EB-3 green card sponsorship is well-established due to the documented national shortage. Conrad 30 J-1 visa waivers provide an additional pathway for veterinarians serving in designated shortage areas.
What is the career progression for a sponsored Veterinarian?
The path moves from associate veterinarian to senior veterinarian to medical director to regional medical director. Medical directors at corporate groups earn $140,000 to $190,000. Specialists and practice owners can earn $200,000 to $350,000. Some veterinarians pursue residencies in surgery, internal medicine, or oncology for board certification.