26 FT/27SA International Student Hire

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s a breakdown of firms and their receptiveness to international students for SA and FT roles, including visa sponsorship insights:

Bulge Brackets (BB):

• Definitely Sponsor: Goldman Sachs (GS), Bank of America (BofA), Credit Suisse (CS), Deutsche Bank (DB), UBS (though sponsorship may vary by office), and Citi (select offices, often diversity-focused).
• Limited Sponsorship: Morgan Stanley (MS) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) are known to sponsor but are highly selective, often favoring diversity candidates or top-tier applicants.
• Do Not Sponsor: Barclays and some regional offices of BBs.

Elite Boutiques (EB):

• Sponsor: Evercore (NY office is particularly receptive), Lazard (case-by-case, often top candidates), Moelis, PJT Partners, Greenhill, and Rothschild.
• Varies: Centerview Partners (CVP) sponsorship depends on the office and candidate profile.

Middle Market (MM) and Other Firms:

• Sponsor: Mizuho, Nomura, and William Blair (SF office confirmed to sponsor).
• Do Not Sponsor: Harris Williams, Guggenheim, and most regional offices of MMs and boutiques.

Key Observations:

1. Evercore: Continues to be a strong option for international students, especially in NY, as they traditionally favor visa sponsorship.
2. UBS/SMBC: Known for automatically rejecting international applicants, as noted in your experience.
3. HL RX: While they sponsor, it seems they are becoming more selective, even with strong connections.
4. Canadians: TN visas can be advantageous, but uncertainties in US-Canada relations might impact this pathway.

Recommendations:

• Focus on firms with a history of consistent sponsorship (e.g., GS, Evercore, BofA).
• Target specific offices known for being receptive to international candidates.
• Leverage diversity programs and strong networking to improve chances with selective firms like MS and JPM.

Keep updating your thread with new insights, as visa policies and hiring trends can shift year by year!

Sources: 2024 SA - Visa Sponsorship - US Investment Banking, 2024 SA - Visa Sponsorship - US Investment Banking, Banks Sponsoring International Students - 2023 SA, Which firms still sponsor for IB (U.S./NY)