7) Alternative Paths (Beyond the Usual Routes)

If you've worked for a multinational company abroad for at least 1 year, you might qualify for an L-1 visa to transfer to their U.S. office. L-1A is for managers and executives (up to 7 years in the U.S.), and it leads directly to EB-1C green card—no labor certification needed. L-1B is for employees with 'specialized knowledge' (up to 5 years). Here's a strategic move: if your company doesn't have a U.S. office yet, they can open one and bring you on an L-1 'new office' visa for 1 year to help establish it. L-1 has no lottery and no annual cap. If you're at a global company, ask HR about L-1 possibilities before defaulting to H-1B.