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This information is not just for the OP but for anyone looking to work overseas. OP: it may be your case is more urgent regarding H1B but my advice is still relevant and builds on what M1 said above. I do coaching now and help people move overseas.
As background, I started work at PwC in 1990, and was with them for 20+ years. I transferred from UK to The Netherlands in 1993. From Netherlands to Australia in 1998, back to UK in 2000, UK to US in 2006, US to Hong Kong in 2013. I came back to the US in 2016. (Joined Accenture expecting more international travel which I was promised but never seen... alas I am very disappointed... but that’s another story).
ALL of the Big 4 do internal transfers but normally only after you have been with them for 3 years. Find a way in locally, work hard, network like crazy online, build your reputation for being an expert in something that is globally applicable, read and learn about lots of countries and culture in your spare time, and at work focus on getting on at least two (2) big international projects, with travel. Also keep offer to be the person who will travel anywhere - locally at first - I did projects at a sewer plant, a pig farm, several in Belfast during the Troubles, and several audits in the middle of nowhere in the UK that no-one wanted to do because they were boring as hell. I got offered projects and audits in some of the (supposedly) dangerous parts of Africa and Middle East (back in early 90’s) which I took without hesitation. All of those ‘sacrifices’ got me many several nice projects with weeks here and there in Europe and America. You will be surprised but even before COVID, a LOT of people do not want to work overseas - it is different when it is not a holiday and you are on your own in a foreign place. Try to get on the roster for teaching some niche technical course or even better on the team for the rollout of new global system or process internally. Basically, find ways to get international experience and exposure.
Looking back, it was my commitment to the Firm, embracing travel fully, and openness to doing whatever it took, that is what got me noticed internationally and I built a strong global network of mentors and allies. By the time I applied for my first transfer - which I did 2 years after joining and I transferred first time at end of year 3 - I had multiple options as to where I went.
Also... you may have to take a detour to another country other than the US initially. I took two 1-2 year secondments (with no right of return but they will take you back) before I got to apply to the USA. And those tours of duty where amazing!.
If you need to, go do a couple of years somewhere else, then apply for a US transfer. And for the US, if you ask for it, they will get you an L-1 visit into the US. This is a blanket visa and big 4 firms are guaranteed 100 to 500 L-1 visas a year, almost no questions asked. An L-1 has different conditions but I am told harder to revoke and they offer potentially a quicker path to Green Card (at least it was quicker for me back in 2006. I got mine after 5 years - 2011).
And every internal transfer came through networking on my own own time and my own dime... and in person. I made a point to visit the PwC offices in different countries on my vacations. I took a couple of hours out of my vacation just to meet people for lunch and coffee.
My advice: when COVID is over and it is safe to travel, fly to the country you want to work in for a vacation (and do actually plan a proper vacation - tour the country a little and visit the cities where you want to work). Before going, do your research, find out who are some KEY people - partners, senior managers in the practice - in the office(s) in cities you are visiting. Send them emails a week ahead and say “Hi, I am in town next week and I would like to meet you and some people in the office for networking* and to learn a bit about the culture. Can you help me to arrange that?”. Phone them before you go. If you don’t hear back, send a quick reminder the day before you fly. If still no reply by the time you land, phone the office and ask to speak to their Executive Assistant - be really nice to their EA and I guarantee you will get a call back that day by someone who will invite you to the office. Make these calls on the day you arrive if you are fresh and alert - or the day after you arrive if not. You want to be fresh and alert.
* I usually don’t go via HR but if you get still get no reply, then do call a recruiter or HR in that office; although another good way - as I do now on most of my vacations , I take my laptop and just visit the office, show your badge and business card, and ask for a space to sit and do some emails - tell them you have to get something done for your boss back home. Then just walk around the building and introduce yourself. Soon you will get introduced to someone who will spend time with you.
Bottom line, find a way to connect with people in country and in person. Of course with linked in this is a lot easier today than when I did it in 1993.
And also if you want to, it is worth putting the effort in to connect with and visit some people at the competitors too. You have to be a bit more formal in your approach and can be upfront about looking for a job.... but you being there in country does open doors that you can’t do from home.
Overall, you will be surprised how quickly people respond once know you are in town. Persistence and enthusiasm are key.... and hey, all those Firm values of ‘one team’ kick in so people feel obliged to meet you 🤣.
As for the conversations when you actually meet people. First, ask LOTS of questions and listen intently (seek first to understand...). Trust me, they will then be interested in you (and they will want to listen and understand you). When they ask about you tell them about YOU: who you are, where you come from, what you have done, why you love to travel, what you love about your work, and give examples. Then, at least 15 before meeting or lunch is likely to end, tell them you really enjoyed meeting them and that you are inspired and would like to work in their country, office, etc. And then simply ask: “how could I do that? Can you help me...’. Stay silent. They will step up... Remember: Your goal is to find ‘allies’ who will want to help you... and they will.
I left Amsterdam, Sydney, and Boston with verbal offers of jobs... and they all came through. It took 3-6 months to get the Internal Transfer approved and visa in place. I worked harder throughout that time for my home country and networked regularly with the new country team. When I landed, I had assignments lined up and hit the ground running. No one wanted to terminate my visa as they already believed I was part of their team from day 1.
Working internationally takes effort - much more effort than you think. But it pays off. Make your transfer about YOU and not the VISA. Be prepared to be patient and if needed to compromise. People hire and retain people they like, who they trust, who they believe will not let them down, and who are passionate about being at the company and in their country.
OP: I hope my experiences help you with your approach and next steps. If you are short on time and only have one H1B opportunity left, put the above plan on steroids but still focus on you not the visa. And believe me, there are a lot of other countries to work in and enjoy other than the USA.
Even now, at 50, I expect I will live and work in at least 2-3 more countries before I retire... probably South America and definitely Asia, who knows.
Good luck!
I’ve transferred to 2 European member firms after starting with Deloitte in the US. For each transfer I directly contacted a partner I was interested in working for and it progressed to an offer letter that way. No on from the US helped me nor do I imagine they would. It’s your path to find
I see. How did you go about this during initial interaction with a partner? I joined the firm in COVID so haven't had much opportunities to build a network.
At PwC I’ve helped multiple folks who lost the H1-B lottery transfer to other PwC firms in Canada and Europe.
I think what you’re encountering is that the Big 4 aren’t structured in a way that that allows an internal transfer because they’re actually different companies from country to country. Deloitte US and Deloitte UK are different companies in the Deloitte network, so moving from one to another essentially involves a role having to be posted and an interview process. At PwC partners can generally help find global opportunities via their relationships in cases like these, but as each country’s member firm is a different company, there’s no ability to compel someone else to take you on.
Pretty sure with all big 4 when transferring internationally you have to reapply essentially to the firm location that you are looking to transfer too.