The United States has one of the largest economies in the world and consistently recruits skilled specialists in fields where the domestic labour market falls short. Some occupations sit high enough on that list that the employment routes into them are better defined and better used than others.
These openings support the country’s technology sector and its wider economy, and they give qualified applicants a clearer path to work-based immigration. Competition in the US labour market is intense, so it is worth understanding exactly which occupations are in demand and what each route requires before you commit time to it. This guide covers the best jobs for US immigration.
Occupations in demand in the United States
The sections below set out the occupations most often recruited from abroad and the immigration routes attached to them, based on official US government sources.
1. Specialty occupations
- Example roles: engineering, computer science, information technology, mathematics, medicine, education, accounting, law and the arts, which are among the better-paid fields in the United States
- Requirements: at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field and a job offer from a US employer
- How it works: the H-1B visa is issued for an initial three years and can be extended to six. It provides temporary status to carry out specialised work
2. Mid-skilled and unskilled work
- Example roles: technicians, nurses, construction workers, drivers and service occupations.
- Requirements: a permanent job offer from a US employer and an approved labor certification (PERM).
- How it works: the EB-3 category leads to a green card, that is, lawful permanent residence. It suits people with intermediate skills or without a specialist qualification.
3. STEM occupations
- Example roles: data analysts, software developers, electrical and mechanical engineers, and research scientists.
- Routes: the H-1B visa for specialty occupations, and the EB-2 category for applicants with an advanced degree or exceptional ability.
- How it works: applicants with an advanced degree or substantial experience in a STEM field can use several routes towards permanent residence.
We recommend reading our full guide to the US work visa on the Aval Visa site.
4. Seasonal and temporary work
- Example roles: seasonal staff in hotels, restaurants, construction and landscaping.
- Requirements: a temporary job offer from a US employer and a temporary labor certification from the US Department of Labor.
- How it works: the H-2B visa covers temporary non-agricultural work and is designed for short seasons.
5. Special immigrant categories
- Example roles: religious workers, certain former US government employees and other special immigrant groups.
- Requirements: several of these categories do not need a labor certification, and some allow the applicant to self-petition.
- How it works: the EB-4 category is built for defined groups of special immigrants and leads directly to permanent residence.
Work-based immigration routes to the United States
Matching your occupation and qualifications to the right category is the part of the process that most affects the outcome. Here are the main work-based routes, grouped by the kind of job they cover.
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The H-1B visa
The H-1B visa is for applicants holding a bachelor’s degree or higher in a specialty field. It is valid for three years and extendable to six. It requires a job offer from a US employer and allows a later change of status to permanent residence through one of the EB categories.
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The EB-2 category
EB-2 covers applicants with a master’s degree or higher, or with exceptional ability in the sciences, arts or business. It normally requires a labor certification, unless the applicant qualifies for a National Interest Waiver (NIW). It is one of the more direct routes to a green card.
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The EB-3 category
The EB-3 category is for skilled workers, professionals with a bachelor’s degree and other workers. It requires a labor certification and a permanent job offer from a US employer, and it suits people with a defined trade or substantial work experience.
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The H-2B visa
The H-2B visa is for seasonal or temporary work in the United States. It requires a job offer from a US employer, is valid for a limited period and is issued only for defined categories of temporary work.
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The EB-4 category
EB-4 is for applicants who fall into defined groups such as religious workers and certain former US government employees. In many cases no labor certification is needed, and it leads directly to a green card for those groups.
The US labour market: trends and pressures
- Recent figures put national unemployment at 4.2 per cent, while hiring of new entrants grew only 0.6 per cent, and 11 per cent of employers said they intended to cut graduate recruitment.
- Unemployment among recent graduates reached 5.8 per cent, and 41.2 per cent of them were working below their qualification level.
- Interest from overseas applicants in US jobs has fallen, driven by tighter immigration policy and a slower labour market.
With the categories and the market conditions clear, here is how the application itself runs.
Applying for a job, step by step
This short guide covers the main steps for applying to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) through USAJOBS, the federal government’s official recruitment portal. Note that most federal positions advertised on USAJOBS are open only to US citizens, so check the eligibility line on each vacancy before you invest time in an application. Private-sector employers, which sponsor the great majority of work visas, recruit through their own channels.
Step 1: search for vacancies
To start, create a USAJOBS account or sign in to an existing one. Keep track of the email address you register, because all correspondence goes through it. Once signed in, use keywords, location and the advanced search filters to find roles that match your field. Turning on saved searches will send you email or on-site alerts when relevant vacancies are posted. These tools make the search considerably more efficient.
For guidance, see the US Citizenship and Immigration Services careers page and the federal government’s official recruitment portal.
Step 2: submit the application
- Read the whole vacancy announcement carefully, particularly the submission requirements.
- Send every required document and assessment before the closing date.
- Start early. The application takes longer than most people expect.
- USCIS reviews only the first five pages of your resume, so put all your relevant qualifications and skills inside those five pages.
- Track your application using the “track this application” option on USAJOBS.
Step 3: referral and review
- Human resources reviews the applications and refers the best-qualified candidates to the hiring manager.
- You may be asked for additional material, such as a writing sample.
- The hiring manager may interview the shortlisted candidates.
Step 4: tentative offer and background check
- If you are selected, you receive a tentative job offer with a deadline to respond.
- Once you accept, human resources begins drug testing where required and sends instructions for completing the online security forms.
Step 5: final offer and start date
- After the background check clears, human resources issues the final offer, sets your start date and sends instructions for your first day.
At that point the application process is complete and you can move on to the next stage of your career in the United States.
Frequently asked questions
1. Do I always need a job offer?
No. Some categories, such as EB-1A for applicants with extraordinary ability, do not require a job offer, and the applicant can self-petition.
2. Are there other criteria for specific routes?
Yes. Some routes carry conditions unrelated to your profession, such as nationality. The TN visa, for example, is open only to Canadian and Mexican citizens. Other routes require a labor certification from the US Department of Labor, which affects eligibility.
3. What is a green card and what does it give you?
A green card is lawful permanent residence. It allows you to live and work in the United States indefinitely and normally opens the route to citizenship.
