[hkmurakami]

For h1bs, most areas do almost require someone competent to have gone through a degree program in that field. You can't exactly self learn biochemistry or semiconductor process engineering because of he the tremendous equipment needs.

Software is a huge anomaly because it is so ear easily self learnable. The supposition that someone good at it needing a degree is patently false. It's really a shame. I know a few people with things like psychology degrees who are proficient programmers, and their path to a visa is not straightforward :(

[richo]

For l1b there's no actual visa requirement, but the burden of proof for eligibility is still set incredibly high.

I understand to some degree the rationale behind the absurd process, at the same time it's incredibly frustrating to have a company that wants me here, and no avenue or realistic end in sight to make it happen.

[thirsteh]

L-1B is intra-office transfer. You still have to prove "skill", there's just no degree requirement. If you're a specialized worker (L-1B) or manager (L-1A) and have been so for over a year for your sponsoring company (a requirement for L visas), with a full salary, you presumably have the skills.

[richo]

Yeah, trust me on this; they don't presume shit.

So far there's a pile of documents about 30cm high, and that hasn't yet been enough to appease USCIS.

[thirsteh]

Just curious: what country are you from? I'm from Denmark and my L-1B process wasn't nearly as bad; certainly not as bad as my IR1 which is still ongoing--but maybe the fact that I have an IR1 application helped with the L visa somehow.

[richo]

I'm from Australia.

We basically have a gimme with the E3, but it has the degree requirement.

[venus]

Interesting. A couple of years ago a company was going to move me to the states on an L1A (executive transfer); even though I was "only" the tech lead they seemed confident it would be fairly easy. Then again, they then proceeded to go bust in the GFC so what would they know.

Any hope of being transferred under that category instead?

[thirsteh]

I see. Curious.