You’re definitely not alone in feeling this tension, and your concerns are reasonable given how sponsorship has looked recently. None of this is legal advice, just my perspective on how I’ve seen it play out before.
At the Analyst level, especially in IB, AM, and WM, firms tend to be conservative around H-1B unless a candidate is exceptional or already known internally. Even when job postings do not explicitly mention sponsorship, many firms quietly filter on work authorization early, which likely explains the lack of traction you are seeing.
In practice, the firms most likely to sponsor or to work with non-traditional, non-US candidates are the larger, brand-name platforms. They have the legal infrastructure and precedent to handle it. This means taking a high-volume approach. It’s more work, but the more shots you take, the better your odds.
It helps to be extremely organized. Build a spreadsheet of target firms and roles, track applications, contacts, sponsorship history if known, and next steps. Treat it like a checklist and keep moving through it methodically.
A few additional thoughts:
Maximize your OPT window and treat it as the primary goal. Focus on firms and teams where your Capital Markets internship experience is most relevant. Networking matters a lot here, it is often the only way to get past automated filters and visa assumptions.
Be flexible on roles if needed. While front office IB or AM is the goal, adjacent roles like capital markets, research, product, or strong middle office seats at reputable firms can meaningfully improve longer-term sponsorship odds. Many H-1B outcomes come from internal momentum, not the initial title.
The SIE is fine to pursue, but it will not override visa risk or GPA concerns. Think of it as a signal of seriousness, not a silver bullet.
One very important point: do not, under any circumstances, overstay your OPT. Even a short overstay can seriously hurt future US visa prospects. Protecting your immigration record has to be a firm constraint in every decision.
Finally, it is smart to build a parallel Canada plan now rather than later. Don’t think of it as failure. Many strong US firms recruit in Canada, and internal transfers after proving yourself are often more realistic than direct US sponsorship at the Analyst level.
Overall, this is a hard but navigable situation. Being realistic, organized, and disciplined about process and timelines gives you the best chance to keep good options open. Good luck!