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Comment by Roritharr | Hacker News Reader

Hi, currently (and for the forseeable future) I'm a 29 year old CTO at a VC backed Startup with 40 employees in Germany, I've had this position now for nearly two years, before (and on paper now in parallel to) that I've been managing director of a web-development agency for 3 years. I've had several software dev positions before that while working on starting my own companies, a process which made me drop out of university rather early, so I've never finished my degree. I have a wife and child (of 8 months now).

What are my chances of getting a US Visa based solely on work experience without a university degree?

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Also curious, for the average european developer how easy could it be to move to the US?

Also without a degree

You'll most likely need a job offer from a US company (they sponsor you essentially) or you marry in...

As easy or hard as any skilled tech immigrant from anywhere else. We are all in the same boat and I am not aware of any special agreements between Europe and US in terms of easy transfer of skilled migrants (as Canadians have under NAFTA). So you a) study in the US and get in line for H1B b) work for a multinational in Europe and get transferred to US on L1 visa c) If you are a well published researcher, O1 will be good but it is very difficult to obtain.

Very high.

Thanks, what Visa Type should i look into most likely when the time comes?

Probably the O-1 or E-2.

Or L-1.

Wouldn't this entail that the parent company have a branch in the U.S. also wouldn't he be limited to working at the company (for a maximum of 5+2 years)?

Yes, the foreign company would need to have operations in the US to qualify for an L-1 and you would be allowed to work in the US in L-1 status for 5 or 7 years depending on your level within the organization.

Here can apply for a green card while on the L-1 to stay longer, right?

Correct.

I was in the same boat as you (no education, prior experience) and got an H1B.

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