Business major

OP-- none of us can predict the job market four years from now, and none of us can predict what changes may or may not take place in the current immigration system.

However, you should NOT assume that you’ll be staying in the US to work long term after your Bachelor’s. There are certain times within the highly cyclical job market where big companies are desperate for workers and so they are willing to go through the time, expense and administrative hassle to sponsor foreign workers with specific skills (not just “Business Major”, but “Skilled financial analyst with expertise in valuation who has passed the first level of the CFA exam”.) And then there are other times where the time and expense just isn’t worth it.

Regardless of the labor market, it has historically been true that MORE technical is better than less, and that MORE degrees are better than fewer. So getting sponsored with a Master’s in Data Analysis is a likelier bet than getting sponsored with a Bachelor’s in business focused on organizational behavior. And the golden ticket is the O visa-- generally reserved for “Aliens of Exceptional ability” which is typically a PhD with publications in peer reviewed journals or appearances at global conferences.

You should reach out to the International student office at ASU now-- before you do anything- and they can walk you through the process and your options. You will need them to get the LPT/OPT, so the sooner you start your relationship with them, the easier it will be for you down the road. They can also spell out for you the “do’s and don’ts” of a student visa- where you can work and for how many hours, how to know if an employer is taking advantage of you (which is important to know- you might not care but if you violate the law your visa can get revoked), etc. Better to know your options now before the semester starts.

Good luck!

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