I am now working as a quant in [a European capital], but I want to find a job in NYC by March 2008.1. Does someone have an idea about whether it would be possible to obtain a visa by then, or is the timing horrible? 2. I have 3 years of experience as a quant in market risk management. I have a PhD in theoretical physics. Can you give me an estimate about the salary I can expect?Thanks.

cant say much about the work visa part. After the credit crunch, I know that some of the BB banks have stopped hiring for the year.

QuoteOriginally posted by: AdamSmithI am now working as a quant in [a European capital], but I want to find a job in NYC by March 2008.1. Does someone have an idea about whether it would be possible to obtain a visa by then, or is the timing horrible? i thought that h1bs are sold out. u may try L visa route, i.e. get hired, then transfered to US

the visa issue sucks in the US right now. you can get here via h-1b visa or L-1 visa (as far as I know. you better check yourself). L-1 visa is an inter-corporate transfer. Say, if you have already worked in, say, JPM London for at least 1 year (maybe 6 months) you can get L-1 if you're getting transfered in NYC. There is no quota for this kind of visa.h-1 has a quota of 65,000 + 20,000 for people who got advanced degree in the US. You employer can apply starting April 1, and if you get under quota, you can start working on Oct 1 of the same year. So, there is a window of 6 months between applying and starting your employment which sucks. Once you get h-1b, you're no longer a subject to a quota. also, it's good to know that the 65,000 cap this year was reached on April 1, the first day. they received 150,000 applications the first day. the 20,000 cap officially ended on May 1. only God knows what's going to happen next year. I predict both caps will be reached on April 1 in the first few hours.