Oil and gas jobs in the USA with visa sponsorship exist, but they are a small share of the market, and the rules changed sharply in 2025 and 2026. As a foreigner you usually need one of three routes: an H-1B visa for a specialty occupation that needs a degree, a TN visa if you are a Canadian or Mexican engineer, geologist or scientific technician, or an L-1 transfer from the same company’s office abroad. Many port, refinery and marine jobs also need a TWIC card, a federal security credential that non-citizens in lawful status can get.
This guide explains each route, the new $100,000 H-1B payment and its court case, the TWIC card, and how to find sponsors. It is general information, not legal advice. US immigration rules are changing quickly in 2026, so check the USCIS links and talk to an immigration lawyer before you act.
In court (October 2026): the $100,000 H-1B payment is being challenged in the US courts. A federal court vacated the guidance that put it into effect in June 2026, and DHS says it is complying while it considers next steps. Check USCIS for the current position before you or an employer file.
How many US oil and gas jobs offer sponsorship?
On RigJobsDirect on 16 October 2026 there were 6,156 energy jobs in the United States (US jobs), with 579 in Houston (Houston jobs) and 107 in Midland (Midland jobs). Only 3% of the US ads said the employer would sponsor a visa. Employers whose ads mentioned sponsorship included Eversource Energy, Enerflex, Siemens Energy and Plains All American. Our visa sponsor companies page lists the 17 employers worldwide whose ads mention sponsorship, and visa sponsorship jobs lists the jobs.
So sponsorship is realistic mainly for experienced engineers and specialists, and for people transferring inside a large company. Rig crew and entry-level field jobs rarely come with a visa.
The H-1B visa for oil and gas engineers
Who qualifies
The H-1B is for specialty occupations: jobs that need the theoretical and practical application of highly specialised knowledge, and at least a bachelor’s degree in a directly related specialty, or its equivalent. You qualify with a US degree, an equivalent foreign degree, an unrestricted state licence for the occupation, or equivalent education, training and progressively responsible experience (USCIS).
Petroleum, mechanical, electrical, chemical and process engineers, geoscientists and data specialists usually fit. Roustabout, operator and rig crew roles do not, because they do not require a degree.
The process
- Labor Condition Application (LCA). The employer gets a certified LCA from the Department of Labor, promising to pay at least the wage paid to similar workers or the prevailing wage, whichever is higher.
- Cap registration. Most new H-1B workers are subject to the annual cap of 65,000, plus 20,000 for people with a US master’s degree or higher. Cap petitions must be based on a selected electronic registration.
- Petition. The employer files Form I-129 with USCIS.
- Visa and entry. If approved, a worker abroad applies for the visa at a US consulate and is admitted at the border.
You can be admitted for up to 3 years, extendable to a total of 6 years, with longer extensions possible in some green card cases (USCIS).
The $100,000 H-1B payment and the court case (in court)
A presidential proclamation of 19 September 2025 requires an extra $100,000 payment with certain new H-1B petitions filed from 21 September 2025, mainly for workers who are outside the United States and do not hold a valid H-1B visa. It does not apply to H-1B visas already issued, and it generally does not apply to change of status or extension petitions for people already in the US that are approved (USCIS).
The payment is now being challenged in court. USCIS says that on 8 June 2026 a federal district court in Massachusetts vacated the guidance that put the payment into effect, and on 24 July 2026 the First Circuit Court of Appeals refused to put that order on hold. DHS says it will comply while it considers next steps, and that it still plans to collect the payment if the order is lifted (USCIS).
For you, that means the cost of hiring you from abroad on an H-1B is uncertain, and some employers will wait. Check the USCIS page for the current position before you or an employer file.
Other new H-1B fees
USCIS also says that from 9 September 2026, employers with 50 or more US employees, more than half of them in H-1B or L-1 status, must pay the 9-11 Biometric Fee with all H-1B and L-1 petitions (USCIS).
TN visa for engineers from Canada and Mexico
The TN classification under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) lets qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens work in the US in listed professions, in a prearranged full-time or part-time job for a US employer (USCIS).
TN visa engineer requirements
The professions list in the regulations sets these requirements for the categories oil and gas workers use most (eCFR, 8 CFR 214.6):
| TN category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Engineer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura degree, or a state or provincial licence |
| Geologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura degree |
| Geophysicist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura degree |
| Scientific technician or technologist | Theoretical knowledge of a listed discipline (including engineering, geology or geophysics) and the ability to solve practical problems in it, working in direct support of professionals in those fields |
The “engineering technician” search many people make points to the scientific technician category: you must work in direct support of engineers or geoscientists, not on your own.
How to get a TN
- Canadians do not need a visa. You can apply at certain US ports of entry or pre-clearance stations with proof of citizenship, a letter from your US employer describing the professional role, the purpose, your length of stay and your qualifications, and a credentials evaluation if needed. Your employer can also file Form I-129 first.
- Mexicans must apply for a TN visa at a US embassy or consulate in Mexico, then seek admission at the border (USCIS).
TN status is granted for up to three years at a time, and extensions are also up to three years. The regulations set no specific limit on the total time you can stay in TN status (eCFR). Your spouse and children can come in TD status; they may study but not work.
L-1: transferring within your company
Big service companies and operators often move staff between countries. The L-1B visa is for employees with specialised knowledge of the company’s products, services, equipment or techniques. You must have worked for the company abroad for at least one continuous year within the three years before your admission, and come to work for a branch of the same employer or a qualifying related company (USCIS). Managers can use the related L-1A category.
This is why joining an international company in your home country, for example at one of the engineering centres described in our guide to field engineer jobs at SLB, Halliburton and Baker Hughes, can be a path to a US role later.
The TWIC card
What a TWIC card is
The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act for workers who need access to secure areas of US maritime facilities and vessels. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) runs a background check and issues the card (TSA). In oil and gas, that can include jobs at port terminals and refineries inside secure maritime areas, and work on vessels. Most mariners licensed by the US Coast Guard also need one.
Who can get a TWIC card
TSA says you may apply if you are a US citizen, lawful permanent resident, naturalised citizen, or a nonimmigrant, asylee or refugee in lawful status (TSA). So a foreign worker on a valid H-1B, TN or L-1 can apply. You may be refused for incomplete or false information or disqualifying criminal offences.
TWIC card cost and renewal
| TWIC fee (TSA) | Amount |
|---|---|
| New applicant | $124.00 |
| New applicant, reduced rate (eligible applicants) | $93.00 |
| In-person renewal | $124.00 |
| Online renewal | $116.00 |
| Replacement card | $60.00 |
The card is valid for five years and the fee is not refundable. TSA recommends enrolling at least 60 days before you need the card, because processing can take more than 45 days. You can pre-enrol online or apply in person at an application centre, where you give fingerprints and a photo (TSA).
TWIC card jobs
Searches for “TWIC card jobs” usually mean port, refinery, terminal, marine and offshore support roles in Gulf Coast cities such as Houston, Corpus Christi and New Orleans. Browse New Orleans and Houston jobs, and check each ad for a TWIC requirement.
What US oil and gas engineers earn
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median of $144,910 for petroleum engineers in May 2025, and $180,080 in oil and gas extraction (BLS). For more official figures, see our oil and gas salary statistics for 2026. An H-1B employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and location.
Step by step: getting a US oil and gas job from abroad
- Pick your route: H-1B (degree job), TN (Canadian or Mexican, listed profession) or L-1 (internal transfer).
- Target sponsors. Start with employers whose ads already mention sponsorship on our visa sponsor companies page.
- Get your degree evaluated if it is from outside the US.
- Apply on the employer’s own career site, and say clearly which visa you need.
- Plan for timing. H-1B cap registration happens once a year; TN can be fast for Canadians; L-1 needs a year with the company abroad first.
- Apply for TWIC if the job needs port or vessel access, at least 60 days before you start.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an oil and gas job in the USA with visa sponsorship?
Yes, but it is not common. On 16 October 2026, 3% of US energy job ads on RigJobsDirect mentioned sponsorship. Engineers and specialists with degrees have the best chance, usually on an H-1B or TN visa.
What are the TN visa engineer requirements?
You must be a Canadian or Mexican citizen, have a prearranged job with a US employer in an engineering role, and hold a Baccalaureate or Licenciatura degree or a state or provincial engineering licence.
Does the $100,000 H-1B fee apply now?
As of October 2026, USCIS says a court order vacated the guidance putting the payment into effect and DHS is complying while it considers next steps. It plans to collect the payment if the order is lifted. Check USCIS before you file.
How much does a TWIC card cost?
$124 for a new applicant, $93 at the reduced rate for eligible applicants, $116 for online renewal and $60 for a replacement. The card is valid for five years.
Can a non-citizen get a TWIC card?
Yes, if you are a lawful permanent resident or a nonimmigrant, asylee or refugee in lawful status, and you pass TSA’s background check.