Applying to New York - Visa

If I am European and would like to apply for a position in New York, how hard is it for me to be considered for the job given that I do not have a visa? Is it worth it? Or should I just focus applying to EMEA (e.g. London) Does it depend on the firm I'm applying to?

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It is near impossible to break into the NY finance scene if you don't a visa/residency. The two main ways to break in as a foreigner is through studying at a US university and then landing a job at a company in NY or internally transferring from another office. For example, transferring from Goldman Sachs's London office to their NY office. Your best bet would be to find a job at an American company that operates in Europe and then moving internally.

 

AM/ HF firms allow you to recruit for NY/ US offices directly & they deal with all the visa stuff for you. The big banks I think generally don't, but if you had a strong connection that could vouch for you, I'm sure that could work too.

 

Bumping this thread after 3 months, but you have no idea what kind of a weight this comment took off. 

Still creates the question whether BB AM arms would do the same for you? Cause applying to BX / PIMCO isn't quite the same as applying to MSAM / GS CIMD.

 

To my knowledge, they wouldn’t. If you’re serious about working in NY, you should lateral from a foreign office or get a degree there as others have mentioned. Otherwise, it’s going to be nearly impossible (unless you have a unique edge, like your father being an influential MD at the firm or you being a recognized expert in your field).

 

Hi European,

Stick to London, I was an international student who studied 7 years in US, while being there + got an OPT/CPT permit which is easier to convert, I could not land a job in NYC although I have studied there, as all companies were no !, we do not do sponsorship ! Save your energy to apply to offices in Europe, my advice try to apply for less competitive cities, I have a friend who went to "Grand Ecole in France" end up accepting his first job offer in Madrid JP Morgan then he moved to London same bank, then to Goldman Sachs in London, now he is in Geneva at a Director Level ! Save yourself the pain, I personally ended up in Dubai just because no country in the world has accepted to do "visa" neither Asia nor USA !

 

What edge do you have that Dubai wanted you? Just trying to understand--aren't you both a flight risk and a weaker candidate as you presumably dont' have language/cultural ties?

 

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