Veterinary Surgeon Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Veterinary surgeon roles qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B visa sponsorship, and many clinics and research institutions sponsor foreign-trained vets. USDA-accredited degree recognition and state licensure are the two hurdles most candidates hit before an employer can file. Sponsorship is realistic if you prepare credentials early.
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Get Access To All JobsThe Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) invites applications for a one-year Clinical Instructorship in Small Animal Emergency and Trauma Surgery. This position offers an exceptional opportunity for advanced surgical training, clinical teaching, and mentorship within one of the nation's premier veterinary specialty hospitals.
Position Overview
The Clinical Instructor will lead the Urgent Surgical Service, providing care for critically ill and injured patients requiring emergency and trauma-related surgical intervention. The role combines hands-on clinical service, resident and intern training, and professional development under the guidance of an experienced surgical faculty.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the Urgent Surgical Service and manage emergency surgical caseloads.
- Examine, diagnose, and treat critically ill surgical patients.
- Perform emergency and trauma-related soft tissue and orthopedic procedures.
- Provide primary patient care and client communication.
- Supervise and teach surgical residents and interns assigned to the service.
- Participate in departmental activities, including:
- Case rounds
- Resident seminars
- Journal club
- Service and departmental meetings
- Contribute to AMC's mission of excellence in patient care, education, and clinical training.
Mentorship & Professional Development
Clinical Instructors receive active mentorship from AMC's team of ACVS board-certified surgeons. The position is designed to support professional growth while providing significant clinical responsibility. In addition, eight weeks of leave for Phase II board examination preparation will be provided.
Qualifications
- DVM or equivalent veterinary degree.
- Completion of a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery.
- Completion of a residency in small animal surgery.
- Eligibility for veterinary licensure in New York State.
- Commitment to outstanding patient care, client service, and clinical teaching.
About AMC
The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center is one of the largest non-profit animal hospitals in the world, treating more than 50,000 patients annually. The successful candidate will join a collaborative surgical team that includes:
- 9 ACVS board-certified surgeons
- 7 surgical residents
- 2 specialty interns in surgery
- 1 specialty intern in surgical oncology
- 3 anesthesiologists
- 4 neurologists
- An Integrative & Rehabilitation Center
- A broad network of specialty services
Advanced Facilities & Equipment
- 64-slice CT
- 1.5T MRI
- Two C-arms
- Arthroscopy
- Laparoscopy
- Thoracoscopy, including NIR technology
- Additional advanced surgical and diagnostic resources
Why Join AMC?
This instructorship provides a unique combination of:
- High-level clinical experience
- Dedicated mentorship
- Teaching opportunities
- Exposure to a diverse and complex caseload
- Access to advanced technology and multidisciplinary collaboration
Pay Range
$250,000 - $275,000 USD
Excellence in veterinary medicine since 1910. AMC Offers:
A Commitment to Lifelong Learning: Founded in 1910, the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center is the world’s largest veterinary teaching hospital, offering compassionate, collaborative, and cutting-edge veterinary care. Our commitment to innovation has led to the creation of one of the most advanced veterinary facilities in the world.
State-of-the-Art Facilities: AMC just completed a major expansion and renovation. This project transformed the hospital’s entire 83,000-square-foot space into a state-of-the-art facility unlike any other.
Highlights include: A brand-new full floor surgical center, 1.5 Tesla Philips MRI (the exclusive high field MRI for small animals in NYC), 64-slice spiral CT scanner, Electroencephalography (EEG), Elekta Versa HD Linear Accelerator, In-house Laboratory, Ultrasound, Echocardiogram, and Mobile Cone Beam CT.
A multidisciplinary team of 140+ veterinarians across 20+ specialties: With over 20 specialties and services under one roof, our departments frequently work together to deliver the highest quality of patient care in the veterinary field. Our dynamic array of specialists means that we are the go-to place for complex cases.
A Hospital in the heart of NYC: AMC is located in Manhattan, surrounded by leading research and teaching institutions such as Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical School, and NYU. Collaborative research opportunities abound, and our strong focus on education ensures a rewarding career for those passionate about mentoring and advancing veterinary medicine.
The Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) invites applications for a one-year Clinical Instructorship in Small Animal Emergency and Trauma Surgery. This position offers an exceptional opportunity for advanced surgical training, clinical teaching, and mentorship within one of the nation's premier veterinary specialty hospitals.
Position Overview
The Clinical Instructor will lead the Urgent Surgical Service, providing care for critically ill and injured patients requiring emergency and trauma-related surgical intervention. The role combines hands-on clinical service, resident and intern training, and professional development under the guidance of an experienced surgical faculty.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the Urgent Surgical Service and manage emergency surgical caseloads.
- Examine, diagnose, and treat critically ill surgical patients.
- Perform emergency and trauma-related soft tissue and orthopedic procedures.
- Provide primary patient care and client communication.
- Supervise and teach surgical residents and interns assigned to the service.
- Participate in departmental activities, including:
- Case rounds
- Resident seminars
- Journal club
- Service and departmental meetings
- Contribute to AMC's mission of excellence in patient care, education, and clinical training.
Mentorship & Professional Development
Clinical Instructors receive active mentorship from AMC's team of ACVS board-certified surgeons. The position is designed to support professional growth while providing significant clinical responsibility. In addition, eight weeks of leave for Phase II board examination preparation will be provided.
Qualifications
- DVM or equivalent veterinary degree.
- Completion of a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery.
- Completion of a residency in small animal surgery.
- Eligibility for veterinary licensure in New York State.
- Commitment to outstanding patient care, client service, and clinical teaching.
About AMC
The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center is one of the largest non-profit animal hospitals in the world, treating more than 50,000 patients annually. The successful candidate will join a collaborative surgical team that includes:
- 9 ACVS board-certified surgeons
- 7 surgical residents
- 2 specialty interns in surgery
- 1 specialty intern in surgical oncology
- 3 anesthesiologists
- 4 neurologists
- An Integrative & Rehabilitation Center
- A broad network of specialty services
Advanced Facilities & Equipment
- 64-slice CT
- 1.5T MRI
- Two C-arms
- Arthroscopy
- Laparoscopy
- Thoracoscopy, including NIR technology
- Additional advanced surgical and diagnostic resources
Why Join AMC?
This instructorship provides a unique combination of:
- High-level clinical experience
- Dedicated mentorship
- Teaching opportunities
- Exposure to a diverse and complex caseload
- Access to advanced technology and multidisciplinary collaboration
Pay Range
$250,000 - $275,000 USD
Excellence in veterinary medicine since 1910. AMC Offers:
A Commitment to Lifelong Learning: Founded in 1910, the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center is the world’s largest veterinary teaching hospital, offering compassionate, collaborative, and cutting-edge veterinary care. Our commitment to innovation has led to the creation of one of the most advanced veterinary facilities in the world.
State-of-the-Art Facilities: AMC just completed a major expansion and renovation. This project transformed the hospital’s entire 83,000-square-foot space into a state-of-the-art facility unlike any other.
Highlights include: A brand-new full floor surgical center, 1.5 Tesla Philips MRI (the exclusive high field MRI for small animals in NYC), 64-slice spiral CT scanner, Electroencephalography (EEG), Elekta Versa HD Linear Accelerator, In-house Laboratory, Ultrasound, Echocardiogram, and Mobile Cone Beam CT.
A multidisciplinary team of 140+ veterinarians across 20+ specialties: With over 20 specialties and services under one roof, our departments frequently work together to deliver the highest quality of patient care in the veterinary field. Our dynamic array of specialists means that we are the go-to place for complex cases.
A Hospital in the heart of NYC: AMC is located in Manhattan, surrounded by leading research and teaching institutions such as Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical School, and NYU. Collaborative research opportunities abound, and our strong focus on education ensures a rewarding career for those passionate about mentoring and advancing veterinary medicine.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Veterinary Surgeon Jobs
Get your veterinary degree credential evaluated early
Foreign veterinary degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency before most employers will file a petition. Use an NACES-approved evaluator and confirm your DVM or equivalent maps to a U.S. accredited degree, since USCIS scrutinizes specialty occupation eligibility for vet roles closely.
Secure state licensure before accepting an offer
Most U.S. states require NAVLE passage and a state veterinary license before you can practice clinically. Some employers won't initiate H-1B sponsorship until you hold at least a temporary license, so sit the NAVLE during your OPT window if possible.
Target USDA-accredited clinics and university vet schools
Large veterinary school hospitals, USDA-affiliated research centers, and corporate clinic networks file LCAs for veterinary surgeons more consistently than small independent practices. Prioritize these employers on Migrate Mate, where you can verify active sponsorship history by role and location.
Verify prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your role and location. Check the OFLC Wage Search using the correct SOC category for veterinary surgeons to know the floor before salary conversations begin.
Clarify PERM requirements for EB-2 green card sponsorship
Veterinary surgeon roles typically require PERM labor certification for EB-2 sponsorship, which means your employer must run a full recruitment process. Ask hiring managers during interviews whether the practice has completed PERM filings before, since inexperienced employers often underestimate the timeline.
File H-1B cap paperwork before your OPT expires
If you're on STEM OPT, the 24-month extension gives you two additional lottery cycles to clear the H-1B cap. Confirm your employer is enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT extension is approved, as that enrollment is required for STEM OPT authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a veterinary surgeon role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, veterinary surgeon positions qualify as specialty occupations because they require at minimum a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in a directly related field. USCIS will expect the employer to document that the DVM is the standard entry-level requirement for the specific role, so job descriptions should explicitly state the degree requirement rather than listing it as preferred.
Will a foreign veterinary degree be accepted by USCIS for H-1B sponsorship?
USCIS accepts foreign veterinary degrees if a credential evaluation from an NACES-approved evaluator confirms equivalency to a U.S. DVM from an AVMA-accredited institution. Degrees from countries with strong veterinary programs are generally recognized, but you'll need the written equivalency determination in hand before your employer files the I-129 petition.
Do I need a U.S. veterinary license before an employer can sponsor me?
Most clinical roles require state licensure before you can legally practice, and many employers condition H-1B sponsorship on holding at least a temporary or provisional state license. Research positions and some federal veterinary roles may have more flexibility, but for surgical and clinical work, passing the NAVLE and obtaining state licensure is a practical prerequisite to sponsorship.
Which types of employers sponsor veterinary surgeons for work visas?
University veterinary teaching hospitals, USDA research facilities, federal agencies like the FDA and CDC, large corporate veterinary networks, and zoological institutions are the most active sponsors for veterinary surgeons. Browse Migrate Mate to find employers with verified sponsorship history specifically for veterinary roles, filtered by location and practice type.
Can a small or independent veterinary practice sponsor a foreign vet?
Independent practices can sponsor foreign veterinary surgeons, but they're less likely to have prior experience navigating the LCA, I-129, or PERM processes. Smaller practices may also struggle to meet prevailing wage requirements in higher-cost metro areas. If you're targeting independent clinics, assess their willingness and capacity to sponsor early in the interview process to avoid delays.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Veterinary Surgeon 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.