<p>hmom5: I think you’re confusing some things. I realize that it is harder to get an internship and a job as an international student. The F-1 visa allows students to do internships, and there are no expensive or hugely bureaucratic legal measures to go through. Though companies tend to favor Americans, which is understandable. </p>
<p>An H-1B visa officially requires that the company verifies that there are no Americans who are as qualified for the job, like you said, but there is no lottery involved like you implied. There is, however, the DV lottery which gives green cards to foreigners every year and I intend to take part in that every year (the chance for each year is about 1/3 for my home country). As a green card holder I would not need a work visa. </p>
<p>Believe me, I have done my research and I personally know a friend of my father who worked in Investment Banking in New York City for serveral years on an H-1B visa with just an undergrad degree, and he told me he wasn’t the only one there.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your answers, I absolutely realize that none of my schools is a target school for Investment Banks, but I didin’t come here to brag about them.</p>