Career question: What are the job prospects for an international student attending a college in the US given the current H-1B scene?

Here is a recent question from an online forum:

What are the job prospects for an international student attending a college in the US given the current H-1B scene? (I am an undergraduate with a major in Finance.)

Hello! I am an Indian student and have been admitted to Binghamton University’s School of Management. I’ll be taking loans to fund my education. I’ll need a solid job to pay off these loans upon graduation. Please tell me if I should pursue education in US with the current H1-B policies.

Let us lay out a few facts:

• H1 visa policies are undergoing review and are most likely to change. (my earlier blog on the topic )
• A large percentage of H1B visas go to those with STEM majors and degrees. Check out the list of Top H1B sponsors from last year (link). The majority of them are IT/IS/Tech companies.
• Other non-STEM graduates do get H1 visas, but their numbers are too small and highly competitive.

Back to your case. Let us look at the best case scenario: A person majoring in Finance from a Top-tier school (or Ivy League), with great academic credentials gets and internship at an investment bank or tier-1 consulting firm. The firm is so impressed by her/his credentials that it agrees to sponsor a visa for the person. Alternatively, the firm agrees to hire the person and relocates them to their home-country (and later moving them to US on L1 visa)

Only you can answer if your credentials qualify for the “best case” scenario. All the best!