Let’s clear up the title first: there is no official “Construction Visa Program” run by the US government, and nobody is paid $70,000 simply to relocate. What does exist is a set of real immigration routes that construction employers use to hire foreign workers, and a group of skilled trades where $60,000 to $70,000 a year is a realistic wage once you are licensed and working. If you searched for a construction visa program USA listing, this guide explains the routes that actually exist, which trades pay that much, and who covers your relocation costs.
The three routes that matter are the H-2B visa (seasonal, capped each year), the EB-3 employment-based green card (skilled and “other” workers, with a long wait), and TN status for certain Canadian and Mexican professionals. None is a lottery you can enter alone; every one starts with a US employer who needs you.
This article focuses on skilled trades. For entry-level laborer roles and the lower pay they carry, read our separate guide to construction jobs in the US with visa sponsorship.
Is $70,000 realistic in US construction?
For skilled, licensed tradespeople, yes. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes median pay by occupation, and several construction trades sit at or above $60,000, while construction laborers have a median closer to $46,000. The difference is almost entirely licensing, certification and years on the job.
Pay also varies by state and by whether the site is union or non-union. A union journeyman electrician in Illinois or New York earns well above the national median; the same trade in parts of the rural South pays noticeably less.
| Trade | Approximate US median pay (BLS, as of 2026) | Typical requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $60,000–$65,000 | State licence; 4-year apprenticeship or equivalent experience |
| Plumber / pipefitter / steamfitter | $60,000–$65,000 | State or local licence; apprenticeship |
| Crane and tower operator | $65,000–$75,000 | NCCCO or equivalent certification (OSHA requirement) |
| Welder (structural / pipeline) | $48,000–$55,000 (higher for certified pipeline work) | AWS certifications; employer weld tests |
| HVAC technician | $55,000–$60,000 | EPA Section 608 certification; state licence in many states |
| Construction supervisor / foreman | $75,000–$80,000 | Trade background plus 5+ years; OSHA-30 preferred |
| Construction laborer (for comparison) | $45,000–$47,000 | OSHA-10; no formal qualification |
Treat these as ranges, not promises; check current figures in the BLS wage tables.
Which visa routes do construction employers actually use?
H-2B: temporary, seasonal and capped
The H-2B visa lets US employers hire foreign workers for temporary, non-agricultural jobs when they cannot find enough US workers. Construction firms with seasonal peaks (concrete, paving, roofing, work in northern states that shuts down in winter) do use it, but the annual cap is 66,000 visas plus whatever supplemental allocation is approved in a given year. The employer must obtain a temporary labor certification from the Department of Labor, pay at least the prevailing wage, and cover visa-related fees and your inbound and outbound travel.
H-2B is not a path to a green card and the maximum continuous stay is three years, but it is the most common way a tradesperson from outside the US gets a first US contract. Our H-2B visa sponsorship guide covers the full timeline and the official listings on seasonaljobs.dol.gov.
EB-3: the permanent route for skilled workers
The EB-3 green card has a “skilled worker” subcategory for jobs that require at least two years of training or experience. Licensed electricians, plumbers, welders and crane operators typically fit this definition, which matters because the skilled-worker queue moves faster than the “other workers” queue. The employer must complete PERM labor certification, file an I-140 petition, and then you wait for a visa number under the monthly Visa Bulletin. Realistically that is two to four years or more, longer for some nationalities.
By law the employer must pay the PERM recruitment and legal costs. If an agency asks you to pay thousands of dollars for an “EB-3 slot”, walk away. Our EB-3 visa sponsorship explainer goes through each stage.
TN and H-1B: limited use for trades
TN status under the USMCA agreement is available only to Canadian and Mexican citizens in listed professions. Hands-on trades are not listed, but engineers and certain technicians are. H-1B requires a degree-level “specialty occupation”, so it applies to construction managers and estimators with degrees, not to electricians or welders; since September 2025 a presidential proclamation has attached a $100,000 payment to many new H-1B petitions for workers outside the US (subject to exceptions and litigation), so check USCIS before relying on it.
Who pays for relocation?
This is where the “get paid to relocate” idea comes from, and the answer depends on the visa.
- H-2B: the employer must reimburse inbound travel once you complete half the contract and pay return travel at the end. Visa and consular fees are the employer’s responsibility. Housing is often arranged, sometimes for a reasonable charge.
- EB-3: the employer pays PERM costs. Visa fees, medical exam and your flight are normally your own cost unless the contract says otherwise. Some large contractors offer relocation allowances of a few thousand dollars, but this is negotiated, not guaranteed.
- Union jobs: unions do not sponsor visas, but union contracts often include per-diem and travel pay for out-of-town projects, the closest thing to being “paid to relocate” in this industry.
A genuine relocation package typically covers a one-way flight, a few weeks of temporary housing and possibly a signing bonus. Anything described as a lump-sum $70,000 relocation payment is not genuine.
Licensing: the step most overseas applicants underestimate
US trade licensing is handled by states (and sometimes cities), not the federal government. Foreign qualifications may count toward exam eligibility but rarely transfer automatically.
- Electricians: most states license at journeyman and master level after documented hours (often around 8,000) and an exam based on the National Electrical Code. Some states accept verified foreign experience toward the hours; others do not.
- Plumbers: similar structure, with exams on local plumbing codes.
- Crane operators: OSHA requires certification from an accredited body such as NCCCO. It is national and portable, so experienced overseas operators move into US work faster than other trades.
- Welders: no state licence, but employers test you to American Welding Society (AWS) standards on day one.
- HVAC: the federal EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification is mandatory, plus state licensing in many states.
Before accepting an offer, ask which licence you will work under. Employers often bring in overseas tradespeople as “helpers” at lower pay until the licence is secured, which is legitimate if the wage meets the certified rate for that role.
Union apprenticeships: the long-term route to top pay
Registered apprenticeships run by the IBEW (electrical), UA (plumbers and pipefitters) and Operating Engineers unions combine paid on-the-job training with classroom hours and lead to journeyman status and the best wage scales in the industry. The catch: they require existing US work authorization, so they are a route for green card holders, not a visa route in themselves. If you arrive on an EB-3 green card, a union apprenticeship or direct journeyman entry is the fastest way from $45,000 to $70,000 and beyond.
How to apply: a realistic step-by-step
- Gather proof of your trade. Certificates, apprenticeship records, employer letters stating years of experience, and any welding or crane certifications, translated and ideally evaluated by a credential evaluation service.
- Earn US-recognized certifications from abroad. OSHA-10 and OSHA-30 construction courses are available online. AWS certifications can be taken at accredited test facilities in many countries.
- Target the right employers. For H-2B, search seasonaljobs.dol.gov for construction job orders. For EB-3, look at large general and industrial contractors in states with labor shortages (Texas, Florida, Arizona, the Carolinas, the Mountain West) and apply through their official careers pages.
- Verify the employer. DOL’s H-2B disclosure data and the USCIS employer data show which companies have actually filed petitions. A company with no filing history that promises instant sponsorship deserves extra scrutiny.
- Let the employer file. For H-2B: labor certification, I-129 petition, then your consular interview. For EB-3: PERM, I-140, then wait for your priority date before consular processing.
Costs to budget for once you arrive
A $65,000 salary does not mean $65,000 in your pocket. Budget for federal and state income tax, Social Security and Medicare, and health insurance. On H-2B contracts employer coverage is often limited, so compare the ACA marketplace at HealthCare.gov during open enrollment (1 November to 15 January in most states).
- Tools and protective equipment: roughly $500–$2,000 depending on trade.
- Vehicle: most sites are not reachable by public transport, so a used truck plus insurance is often the biggest early cost.
- Sending money home: compare licensed transfer services; a 1 percent federal tax on certain cash-funded remittances began in 2026 (bank-funded transfers are generally exempt; check current rules).
- Credit history: you start from zero. A secured credit card and on-time bills build the score you need for a lease or vehicle loan.
For a broader picture of rights and paperwork for newcomers, see our overview of immigrant jobs in the USA.
How to check an offer is genuine
Legitimate US employers do not charge you for a job offer, do not charge “processing fees” for H-2B or EB-3 sponsorship, and do not promise a green card within months. Any “Construction Visa Program” website that asks for payment to reserve your place or communicates only through messaging apps is misleading. Verify employers through official DOL and USCIS data, and consult a US immigration attorney (check their state bar licence; AILA membership is a good sign) before you sign anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for a US construction visa without a job offer?
No. H-2B, EB-3 and TN all require a specific US employer to petition for you. There is no self-sponsored construction visa and no lottery for trades workers. Your effort should go into becoming an attractive hire, not into searching for a direct application form.
Will my electrician licence from Nigeria, India or the Philippines be accepted?
Not directly. US licensing is state-based and you will normally have to document your experience, possibly complete additional supervised hours, and pass the state exam. Some employers will hire you as a helper at a lower wage while you work toward the licence.
How long does the EB-3 skilled worker process take for a tradesperson?
Expect two to four years from PERM filing to green card, and longer if you were born in a country with heavy demand such as India, China or the Philippines. The monthly Visa Bulletin from the State Department shows which priority dates are currently being processed.
Do I have to repay relocation money if I leave early?
On H-2B, the employer cannot recover visa and travel costs from you. On an EB-3 or direct-hire contract, a repayment clause for a relocation bonus is possible but must be reasonable and in writing. Have a lawyer read any clawback clause before you sign.
Bottom line
There is no $70,000 relocation payment and no official construction visa program, but there is a genuine shortage of licensed tradespeople in the US and a set of real routes (H-2B, EB-3 skilled worker, TN) that employers use to fill it. Build your certifications before you apply, target employers with a filing history, let the employer carry the costs the law assigns to them, and plan for state licensing after you arrive. Do that and $60,000 to $70,000 a year is an achievable outcome for a skilled trades career, not a headline you were sold.