Canadian with Georgetown MSF + TN Visa to Break into Regional US IB (MM/Boutique)

FYI: clearly ChatGPT cleaned this up for formatting dont kill me. also posting this concurrently to my other Georgetown MSF post if you see it

Canadian here. Just locked in a spot for Georgetown’s Master of Finance (MSF) program starting Fall 2025. It’s a 2-year, part-time, online program, but the degree just says “Master of Finance” so it reads like any other MSF. Got a strong scholarship and chose it because of the flexibility and decent brand in North America.

My background:

• Undergrad from a UK semi-target (King’s/Edinburgh/St Andrews type) - obv unknown in the US
• 3 LMM IB internships (1 in Canada, 2 in the UK) — no-name shops
• Two upcoming front office investment internships at Canadian pension funds — one this fall (Sept–Dec), the other next spring (Jan–Apr). Think infra/PE/credit/etc. Not convertible, just resume builders

I’m realistic and just want to land at a MM or boutique bank in the US. I’m open to literally any location — Midwest, Texas, Southeast, wherever. Just want reps and exposure, not prestige. Also ik US recruiting for '26 summers is basically wrapped up so would focus on FT recruiting essentially

The catch is the visa:

• Georgetown MSF is online, so I don’t qualify for an F1
• That leaves the TN Visa, which allows Canadians to work in the US in certain occupations
• I know people have used the TN to break into US finance before, but it’s a bit of a black box — some stories of easy approvals, others of last-minute rejections at the border
• Any Canadians here who’ve done this successfully? Any firms that are more TN-friendly than others?

Key Questions:

• How does Georgetown MSF place into regional MM/boutique IB? Do I even have a shot with my background?
• Any advice for how to approach recruiting with the TN situation?
• Should I be targeting certain cities or firms that are more open to non-F1 Canadians?
• Would cold emailing even work in these cases or is there a cleaner way to get on their radar?

Thanks in advance — appreciate any insight from Canadians on the TN or anyone recruiting out of the Georgetown MSF rn or prior