Should I Risk Waiting for H1B or Move to Cayman Islands? Job offer from Cayman
Hi everyone, I’m a 26M currently on an F-1 visa in the U.S. and in my first year of OPT. I’ll have two more years of STEM OPT after this, after which I’ll require H-1B sponsorship to continue working in the U.S.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t selected in this year’s H-1B lottery, so I’m left with two more chances in 2027 and 2028.
Right now, I’m working at a Top 10 accounting firm with a base salary of USD 80K. Recently, I received an offer from one of the Big 4 firms for a tax professional role at USD 70K plus benefits. Honestly, I was expecting something closer to $80K+ considering the cost of living.
I’ve also been considering moving to the Cayman Islands for work. Currently, I’m able to save around $3.5K per month in the U.S., and ideally I’d want to maintain similar savings of KYD 3k to 3.5k if I move to Cayman. I’m open to having a roommate to reduce living expenses, and I probably wouldn’t get a car initially if public transportation is good enough. The office would be located in George Town.
Would love to hear thoughts from people who’ve worked in Cayman, especially in tax/accounting, or anyone who has faced a similar visa/career decision.