Is H1-B the only *main* way to work in the US ?

[ahmadka]

Hi guys ... I want to know that is getting a H1-B the only main way of entering the US for work purposes ? Because this is what it seems to me ...

I know about the L-1 visa, which you get if you're in a non-US company which transfers you to their US branch ... Although I am currently in such a company, I doubt I'll get transferred anytime soon, as I'm not that high up the food chain .. :/

Hence why I'm asking what other options I have ..

And if it is the case that H1-B is the only route, then I guess I have to get selected by Microsoft ? .. I say this because they're the main guys who get most of the quote in that 65k limit, as far as I know .. :/

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A little bit about me:

I'm currently in South East Asia, and did my Bachelors in Computer Engineering from one of the top universities here .. I then did my Masters from Georgia Tech in the US via Fulbright Scholarship (again in Computer Engineering), so my academics are quite strong I think ... I'm in the software development industry, and have been working in my country for the past 1.5 years ..

[Marco 72]

Are you aware that there is a special additional H1B quota for people with a US masters degree or higher?

[eman01]

Green card is also a way for USA.

[jagacharaja]

And if it is the case that H1-B is the only route, then I guess I have to get selected by Microsoft ?

That's a bit extreme! Surely there are other companies in the US who sponsor H1B applications - you just need to find them.

Overall, yes - H1B (and L1 - which you're already aware of) is the only visa-category through which you can work.

In other words, there isn't a Tier 1 equivalent visa in the US.