[eitally]

The irony is that for a lot of Indians/Chinese here, they could either wait 6-8 years, or they could leave the country for a year then transfer back in and have a GC in a year or less. It's particularly unpleasant for H1-Bs who start the PREM process as such. So much easier for internal transfers, especially EB1, O, an L1/L2... and easier still if you're not from a slow lane country (currently China & India, but Brazil was in this boat for a number of years, too).

[Manishearth]

A lot of companies (Microsoft is one example that I know of) are sidestepping H1-B entirely for college hires (and perhaps other channels of hiring?) for L1. Hire in Canada or the UK; apply for L1; transfer to the US in a year or two.

Apparently it's much more straightforward (and less prone to chance) as compared to H1B.

[vadym909]

Its actually pretty cool to see Microsoft 'hacking' the visa system. They opened a center in Vancouver and put all their international hires there for 1 year, then brought them into the US on an L1 which allows them to get a greencard in 1 year- which prevents them from being in the 10 year to be free queue.

[pm90]

Its not ideal for the employee though, since they are restricted to work for one employer. But otherwise, yes, it is a very good deal.

[therein]

You should be able to transfer your H1-B to another employer, though. I didn't think it was that hard.

I recently got married and filed for AOS.

[zb]

You can, but the parent was talking about an L1, which cannot be transferred.

[findjashua]

only L1A is faster than H1B though, L1B seems to take the same amount of time http://www.immihelp.com/l1-visa/l1-visa-based-greencard.html

[pandaman]

There is 0 difference in the speed of GC process. It does not matter if you are on H, L, O or don't have any status at all and applying from abroad. People are spreading this myth because L1-A and O-1 requirements are pretty close to EB1 so if you can get such a category of visa then you have a good chance to apply to EB1. But, again, if you fit these requirements already you can just apply to EB1 from any status (or lack of thereof).

[klipt]

Actually at least one cateogory, EB1-C, specifically applies to managers relocated from an overseas branch of the same company. An equivalently qualified manager on H1-B in the US is ineligible for that category.

[pandaman]

Equivalently qualified manager on H-1B would have spent a year out of last 3 serving in such a position overseas so he would also be eligible. Alternatively, a L-1A manager who already spent more than 2 years in the US would be ineligible.