but bear in mind they pay Euro FIs a lot less than their Yank counterparts.
What is the basis for this? You cannot pay an 'alien' less than a 'citizen'. This is to ensure 'aliens' do not undercut the home job market, and employers do not employ non citizens (at the expense of citizens) to save money. There are also Fed laws coming into play here, you cannot discriminate on the basis of national origin. I would say that paying less is definite discrimination, the lawyers would love that one.
Are you saying these do not apply if you are here on a J1 visa? What would the INS have to say about this?