Youth Counselor Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Youth Counselor roles in the U.S. can qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship when the position requires a bachelor's degree in counseling, social work, or psychology. Nonprofit agencies, school districts, and residential treatment centers are the most active sponsors, and some roles may also fit TN visa or J-1 visa exchange pathways depending on your nationality and program structure.
Find Youth Counselor JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 24+ Youth Counselor jobs
See all Youth Counselor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Youth Counselor roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Relief Residential Youth Counselor / Youth Advocate
Exciting opportunity to join Riverside Community Care as a Relief Youth Advocate!
We believe everyone deserves a safe, caring, and respectful living environment. Our Youth Advocates are at the heart of this mission, providing direct support and encouragement to youth in their daily lives.
If you are patient, empathetic, and committed to making a difference, we encourage you to join our team!
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Youth Advocate, you will:
- Spend time with and supervise 12 youth in a medium-sized, home-like environment
- Provide support and encouragement while ensuring youth’s overall safety
- Help youth work toward service goals through homework assistance, coping skills, and behavior management
- Serve as a positive role model to support youth’s well-being
SCHEDULE: Weekend availability required (morning and/or evening shifts), with additional hours available
PAY RATE: $19.00/hour without MAP Certification; $20.00/hour with MAP Certification
WHY YOU'LL LOVE RIVERSIDE
We make a true difference in people’s lives through rewarding work. Most of our jobs come with great benefits – including healthcare, numerous professional development opportunities, and generous time off - all in a respectful and inclusive environment, perhaps why Riverside was named a Boston Globe Top Workplace and a best-in-state employer by Forbes.
BENEFITS INCLUDE:
- Comprehensive, high-quality health, dental, and vision insurance options
- Flexible Spending Accounts – both medical and dependent care
- Twelve paid holidays
- Separate accruals for vacation (increases with tenure), personal, and sick time
- Tax-deferred 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match
- Employee Assistance Plan / Travel Assistance Plan
- Employee bonus for referrals resulting in hiring
- Discounts to movie theaters, sporting, and entertainment events
- Employee YMCA discount: 10% off a YMCA monthly membership and 50% off the joiner’s fee
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR BENEFITS AND CULTURE:
Our Benefits
Our Culture
Hear what employees think about working for Riverside!
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Valid MA driver’s license, acceptable driving record, reliable transportation and proof of insurance
- Ability to learn, carry out, and become certified in CPI physical interventions and de-escalation techniques
- Ability to learn, carry out, and become certified in CPR and first aid
- Additional language skills are desirable, but not required
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
- High School Diploma or GED required
- One year of experience working with adolescents is preferred, but not required
- Residential experience preferred
- Experience with systems such as DMH and DCF preferred
Riverside Community Care is dedicated to respect, integrity and engagement of all individuals. We are committed to building an inclusive and culturally competent organization and we value the richness of having a diverse applicant pool. As an employer committed to equal opportunity, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic as established by law.
INTRODUCTION
Relief Residential Youth Counselor / Youth Advocate
Exciting opportunity to join Riverside Community Care as a Relief Youth Advocate!
We believe everyone deserves a safe, caring, and respectful living environment. Our Youth Advocates are at the heart of this mission, providing direct support and encouragement to youth in their daily lives.
If you are patient, empathetic, and committed to making a difference, we encourage you to join our team!
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Youth Advocate, you will:
- Spend time with and supervise 12 youth in a medium-sized, home-like environment
- Provide support and encouragement while ensuring youth’s overall safety
- Help youth work toward service goals through homework assistance, coping skills, and behavior management
- Serve as a positive role model to support youth’s well-being
SCHEDULE: Weekend availability required (morning and/or evening shifts), with additional hours available
PAY RATE: $19.00/hour without MAP Certification; $20.00/hour with MAP Certification
WHY YOU'LL LOVE RIVERSIDE
We make a true difference in people’s lives through rewarding work. Most of our jobs come with great benefits – including healthcare, numerous professional development opportunities, and generous time off - all in a respectful and inclusive environment, perhaps why Riverside was named a Boston Globe Top Workplace and a best-in-state employer by Forbes.
BENEFITS INCLUDE:
- Comprehensive, high-quality health, dental, and vision insurance options
- Flexible Spending Accounts – both medical and dependent care
- Twelve paid holidays
- Separate accruals for vacation (increases with tenure), personal, and sick time
- Tax-deferred 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match
- Employee Assistance Plan / Travel Assistance Plan
- Employee bonus for referrals resulting in hiring
- Discounts to movie theaters, sporting, and entertainment events
- Employee YMCA discount: 10% off a YMCA monthly membership and 50% off the joiner’s fee
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR BENEFITS AND CULTURE:
Our Benefits
Our Culture
Hear what employees think about working for Riverside!
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Valid MA driver’s license, acceptable driving record, reliable transportation and proof of insurance
- Ability to learn, carry out, and become certified in CPI physical interventions and de-escalation techniques
- Ability to learn, carry out, and become certified in CPR and first aid
- Additional language skills are desirable, but not required
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
- High School Diploma or GED required
- One year of experience working with adolescents is preferred, but not required
- Residential experience preferred
- Experience with systems such as DMH and DCF preferred
Riverside Community Care is dedicated to respect, integrity and engagement of all individuals. We are committed to building an inclusive and culturally competent organization and we value the richness of having a diverse applicant pool. As an employer committed to equal opportunity, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic as established by law.
See all Youth Counselor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Youth Counselor roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Youth Counselor
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation
Youth Counselor sponsorship hinges on the employer demonstrating the role requires a specific bachelor's degree, not just any degree. Pull the O*NET profile for your occupation and confirm the listed education level aligns with your credential before applying.
Target employers with PERM filing history
School districts, residential treatment programs, and nonprofit youth agencies are the most likely sponsors for counseling roles. Search OFLC public disclosure data to identify which organizations have filed PERM labor certifications for social service and counseling positions in your target state.
Find verified sponsors on Migrate Mate
Many Youth Counselor openings don't advertise visa sponsorship upfront. Migrate Mate lists employers with verified LCA sponsorship history, so you can focus your applications on organizations that have already committed to sponsoring candidates in counseling and social service roles.
Check if your role qualifies for TN status
Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify under TN if the position is titled Social Worker and meets USMCA requirements, which typically include a baccalaureate degree in social work. TN doesn't require an H-1B lottery or PERM, making it a faster path for eligible applicants.
Get your credentials evaluated before the offer stage
If your counseling or psychology degree was earned outside the U.S., request a credential evaluation from a NACES-member organization before you receive an offer. Employers filing an LCA with DOL need wage and degree data confirmed, and delays in evaluation can stall the entire sponsorship timeline.
Clarify the LCA prevailing wage with your employer
Youth Counselor roles span a wide wage range depending on setting and state. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the prevailing wage for your occupation and location before negotiating, so your offered salary meets DOL requirements and doesn't trigger an LCA denial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Youth Counselor role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It depends on how the employer defines the position. USCIS requires that the role normally requires a bachelor's degree in a specific field, such as counseling, psychology, or social work. Generalist titles where any bachelor's degree is acceptable won't meet the specialty occupation standard. Employers strengthen the case by tying specific degree requirements to the job description and demonstrating that industry norms support that standard.
Which visa types are available to foreign nationals seeking Youth Counselor jobs in the U.S.?
H-1B is the most common path if the role qualifies as a specialty occupation. J-1 exchange visitor status is an option for clinical training or internship placements through a designated sponsor organization. Canadian and Mexican nationals with a social work degree may qualify for TN status under the USMCA profession list. Browse Youth Counselor roles with verified sponsorship history on Migrate Mate to see which employers are actively filing.
Do Youth Counselor employers typically sponsor green cards through PERM?
Some do, particularly larger nonprofit agencies, school districts, and government-contracted residential programs that have established immigration workflows. PERM labor certification requires the employer to prove no qualified U.S. worker is available, which can be difficult for community-based roles with broad applicant pools. Sponsorship is more likely when the position requires a licensed credential, such as an LCSW or LPC, that narrows the qualified candidate field.
What happens to my visa status if my Youth Counselor position ends before my H-1B expires?
You have a 60-day grace period after your employment ends to find a new H-1B sponsor, change to another valid status, or depart the U.S. During this window you're not authorized to work. A new sponsoring employer can file a new H-1B petition and you can begin working once USCIS receives that petition, without waiting for approval, under H-1B portability rules.
Is a master's degree required to get visa sponsorship as a Youth Counselor?
A master's degree isn't always required, but it significantly strengthens the specialty occupation argument, especially if the role involves clinical assessment, case management, or licensure-track supervision. Positions requiring a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, or equivalent credential typically demand graduate-level education, which makes USCIS review more straightforward. Entry-level roles with a bachelor's in social work or psychology can qualify, but the employer's job requirements must be clearly documented.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Youth Counselor 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.