10 US companies that sponsor H-1B visas

“Will this company sponsor my H-1B visa once my F-1 OPT ends?”

It’s the question on every international master’s student’s lips as they near the end of their studies.

That’s doubly true for MBA and other business school graduates as they’re limited to 12 months of work on their F-1 OPT extension. After that it’s an H-1B visa or bust. Instead of H-1B for MBA graduates, there are also other visa classes, especially for those with an entrepreneurial passion, but that’s not always the easiest option when you’re paying off international student loans at the same time. 

STEM graduates face the same question, though they may not feel the same pressure… at first. With up to 36 months in the US on the OPT STEM extension, they’ve got a little more time to find their feet.

But, the reality is, that its becoming more and more complex to secure an H-1B visa. It can be quite time-consuming for the companies that sponsor international students and - at the end of the day - it’s a lottery, so there is an element of risk.

Of course, there are still a number of US companies that sponsor visas and hire international graduates.

There’s a lot more to it than simply checking out the top 10 H-1B visa sponsors and employers hiring international graduates. You want a fulfilling job that ticks a lot more boxes than just H-1B visa assistance - and this step-by-step plan may help you get the job that fits you like a glove.

Your university knows H-1B visa sponsors

You’ll find that the careers department and the international student office at your school work closely to help their international students and graduates find the right employers in the US. They may connect you with companies that sponsor H-1B visas.

In parallel, companies rely on schools to identify their top talent. It’s a win-win-win for everyone involved.

Even if you have an offer from your internship company or you’re planning to return to the company that helped sponsor your degree, it’s worth checking out what the careers department has to offer, and find out which are the companies that sponsor H-1B visas most consistently.  

Above all, remember to engage with your school’s career and international offices - even if you think it’s too late in the process or you’re already on your OPT, to find out about companies that hire OPT students. 

Check the H-1B visa sponsors databases

It’s no secret that there are websites listing H-1B sponsoring companies. 

This information is public information as US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), approves all H-1B visas and maintains records on where these visa holders work. 

Feel free to browse their website, where you’ll find information on approvals - sortable by the type of degree and salary bands.  

Looking for alternative H-1B visa sponsors databases?

The USCIS database is a great place to start, but you’ll notice that the biggest IT employers often apply for H-1B visas to hire international employees without graduate degrees.

If you’re an international graduate from a top American school, you’ll need something with a little more depth. There are several public H-1B visa sponsors databases and you’re likely to find one that allows you to filter by city, occupation, job title and more to be the most useful for your searches. 

Use or grow your network to find H-1B employers

If you’ve been working towards your MBA, you know there’s nothing like networking, networking, networking to connect with companies that sponsor H-1B visas. While there isn’t as much emphasis placed on MS degree applicants to grow their network, a list of growing personal contacts will always make a difference to your H-1B sponsorship and future career.