Chef de cuisine visa routes in United States of America
Thinking about United States of America as a place to work? Below is the 1 United States of America visa route that most commonly fits chef de cuisines, with what each one needs and a link to the official government source. Always confirm the current rules on the primary source before acting.
Also searched as: head chef, executive chef, sous chef, pastry chef.
What this means for chef de cuisines
Of the 1 United States of America route that commonly fits chef de cuisines, 1 needs a sponsoring employer and 0 do not, and 1 can lead to permanent residence. Chef de cuisines are not usually a licensed profession, so your main gates are securing a qualifying job offer where a route needs a sponsor, and meeting any salary or points threshold, rather than re-credentialing.
The most-used skilled route into United States of America overall is the H-1B Specialty Occupation; it is not specific to chef de cuisines but is worth understanding as the benchmark route.
Typical figures — EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
How long it takes
12 months – 3.3 years
PERM labor certification + I-140 stages typically 12–36 months combined; visa-bulletin backlogs for India add substantial further waits.
Verified 1 June 2026 · USCIS — Case Processing Times →
Time to permanent residence
Arrival on H-1B (3 years) → PERM + I-140 (1-2 years) → I-485 / Green Card (current for most categories, 7-15+ years for India EB-2) → citizenship at PR+5 years.
Leads to Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card), then U.S. citizenship (naturalisation).
Routes that fit chef de cuisines
Figures by route
Verified salary floor and processing window per matched route, each primary-sourced. Indicative, not legal advice.
| Route | Salary floor | Processing | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers | — | 12 months – 3.3 years | Yes |
Recent policy changes affecting this route
What changed most recently on this route — each linked to its primary government source.
- 12 January 2026In force 1 March 2026
US: premium processing rises to $2,965 and H-1B moves to wage-weighted selection
Two USCIS changes land for the FY2027 H-1B season: the Form I-907 premium-processing fee rises with inflation, and cap-subject H-1B selection switches from a random lottery to a wage-weighted process.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services → - 1 April 2024In force 1 April 2024
USCIS final fee rule takes effect
USCIS implemented its first major fee schedule adjustment in nearly a decade, including differentiated H-1B filing fees by employer type.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services →
Frequently asked questions
Which visa routes suit chef de cuisines moving to United States of America?+
United States of America has 1 route that commonly fits chef de cuisines: EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers. The best fit depends on whether you already have an employer sponsor, your salary, and your qualifications — open any route below for its full eligibility criteria and primary government source.
Do chef de cuisines need a job offer to move to United States of America?+
For the routes that fit chef de cuisines here, yes — all 1 require a sponsoring employer or a confirmed job offer. Securing that offer is usually the first and slowest step, so it is worth starting there.
Can chef de cuisines settle permanently in United States of America?+
Yes. 1 of the 1 matched route leads toward settlement or permanent residence. Permanent-residence timelines vary by route, so check the settlement detail on each visa page.
How long does the EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers take to process?+
The typical published decision window is 12 months – 3.3 years (USCIS — Case Processing Times, verified 1 June 2026).