>I did a year in grad school before working in tech in the Bay Area for more than a decade, including at two companies from FAANG.

I guess moved there with a F-1 visa, then F1 OPT and then H1-B?

The "best" flow at the moment from what I have seen seems to be working for FAANG in Europe and then moving with a L1 visa, though that depends of course on the company.