Banks sponsoring international students - 2022 SA

Just finished recruiting for SA 2022 and felt like contributing to this forum. I've seen a lot of BS forums where people are arguing about which banks sponsor.
From semone who's just finished recruiting as an international non target here's the list I've compiled. This is straight from HR and is only limited to IB groups.
MS (very limited)
Citi (very limited)
Lazard (some groups only, very limited )
HL (very limited)MMs:
RBC (very limited)
WB (very limited)
Other international banks (not that much presence in M&A):
TD securities

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Comments (64)

  • Prospect in IB-M&A
Jun 19, 2021 - 5:16pm

This is accurate. What did you end up securing as an international? Also, which country are you from?

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  • Intern in IB - Cov
Jun 20, 2021 - 4:04pm

HL Rx is like 20 analysts in total. Sure it's a top group but pretty disingenuous to consider all of HL an EB imo. Not that is matters

Jun 19, 2021 - 7:14pm

Curious as to where you got the fact that RBC is 'very limited', had many intl friends go there no problem for SA.

  • Prospect in IB-M&A
Jun 20, 2021 - 12:01pm

This is easily the most accurate list. I'm also an international non diverse that just finished recruiting. I'd add that Barclays is also very limited (NY Only and you need to be a target) and Lazard may have stopped entirely (senior contact).

  • Intern in IB-M&A
Jun 20, 2021 - 1:26pm

Agreed. I personally know a couple international kids with F-1 going to Barclays, but that number is extremely limited. Do you think I have a shot at Barclays non-NYC offices if I have really good connections with seniors there?

  • Intern in IB - Cov
Jun 20, 2021 - 1:45pm

did not know Barclays selectively sponsors targets for IB - if you don't mind answering, who did you hear it from (or who I should reach out to confirm) and is a non-HYP ivy considered a target in this case? thanks!

  • Prospect in IB-M&A
Jun 20, 2021 - 1:55pm

Ivy is target, HYP or not. I'm from a non target state school, so I may not be the best person to answer your Q.

  • Prospect in IB - Gen
Jun 20, 2021 - 2:32pm

What is your definition of very limited? Do you mean in terms of offices, groups or general quota? If you could clarify, that would be much appreciated.

  • Intern in IB - Gen
Jun 20, 2021 - 2:34pm

I guess he means that the banks with 'very limited' have lower number of international students compared to other banks and they'll likely only sponsor if a candidate is unusually good compared to other interviewees.

  • Intern in IB - Gen
Jun 21, 2021 - 6:21am

Very good list, but I would add that HL should be divided between RX and M&A. During their presentation I asked and they explicitly said RX takes international while M&A requires them to have STEM OPT. very weird policy but this is how it is 

Jun 21, 2021 - 10:29pm

I just went through the FT process as an international student and wanted to give my 2 cents. 

First of all, an answer to why they don't want to sponsor non-STEM people- it's because you can only apply for the H1B process twice (assuming you are smart and apply before graduating). Since the chance of getting an H1B is about 33%, you can do the math what your chances are if you do not have the STEM extension. Why would they hire you if you are probably going home after 1 year?

As for sponsoring, shoot your shot everywhere. You have no idea who is going to like you. All of these big banks are sponsoring a lot of international kids in tech- which means they have designated departments for sponsoring. Thus, if the right person likes you and pushes for you, you might end up being hired. Just for context- I was hired by a bank that typically does not sponsor and I have spoken to several people that were sponsored by "non-sponsoring banks" (UBS, HW, Guggenheim, RJ, WF, Truist, JPM) in the past year. 

  • Intern in IB-M&A
Jun 21, 2021 - 10:37pm

Congrats on the recent role! Mind if I pm you?

Jun 22, 2021 - 1:11am

Dude OP here, thanks for contributing. I completely disagree with your last point.

If a company has a policy and clearly states on their job application that they are not looking for F1 candidates or that the position specifically requires permanent US citizenship, they will dinge you immediately. Or if you somehow move with the process, you'll get dinged once you get the offer cause they have a policy in place.

The banks you listed did sponsor a while back. So, the people working there might have been sponsored before. International students this year got auto rejected at JPM, UBS, and WF for reference.

IMO it's stupid to network with a firm that explicitly states they won't sponsor. You are never going to get bigger than the policies no matter who the fuck you network with.

Jun 22, 2021 - 1:35am

The only exception might be banks who don't explicitly state that they don't sponsor on the job requirements and have historically sponsored less people. These are the firms that I have put in the very limited category.

You essentially have to be really good and well connected to get an offer there. I would only network there if you have a really strong connection working there.

Congrats on the offer btw always love to see a fellow international student crashing the door open.

Most Helpful
Aug 16, 2021 - 1:05am

I completely agree with this. As an international student, recruiting for IB is probably the hardest thing ever, especially if you don't have a STEM major. That being said, I was able to sign with an EB a few weeks ago without a STEM major, and from a non-target and non-diversity background. So it is possible even if you don't have a STEM major, but it's difficult. Apply to and network with whatever bank you can find, and every location, even if it is a regional office. I know people are sometimes deadset on NY, but keep in mind that NY is by far the most competitive. I do disagree with applying to banks that clearly state that they won't take international students, as the chances of this working out are very low. I made this mistake a lot in the beginning. I would network heavily with banks which would eventually turn out to not take international students like WF and others. Really even if you talk to 6+ analysts and associates, or even an MD, I doubt they will change their hiring policies just for an undergraduate intern (unless your uncle or somebody is the MD or something). 

Also, I think some people were wondering if UBS was sponsoring. They probably are because they selected me for a first-round interview for their tech team, knowing that I was an international student. So maybe they are but can't say 100%. 

  • Intern in IB - Gen
Jun 24, 2021 - 7:13pm

Nomura is MM dude. Where else do you think it comes? Taken that it does a lot of Japanese deals but has been recently doing a lot of MM stuff in the US and has a big LevFin/Sponsors presence here.

  • Prospect in IB - Gen
Jul 15, 2021 - 12:18am

Does Barclays no longer sponsor? Saw their FT application open up.

  • Intern in IB-M&A
Sep 27, 2021 - 3:26pm

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  • Intern in IB-M&A
Sep 27, 2021 - 3:36pm

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