100%

> H-1Ba are supposed to be for difficult-to-find specialists

In my understanding H-1B is supposed to be for generic workers, rather than O1 which is for people with extraordinary ability in their field. That's why there is limit, lottery and high application fees.

H-1B is for difficult-to-find specialists and O-1 is for people with extraordinary ability in their field.

H-2B is for ordinary workers.

The opposite of extraordinary is, well, ordinary - why would they be difficult to find? H-2B seems to be a non-immigrant visa for temporary workers.

It's not "the opposite", it's a spectrum of rarity.

The conditions look like the only requirement is being a professional with college degree.

I am an immigrant (not to US though), so looking from this standpoint. If I wanted to move to the US, H1B would be a pretty straightforward way for me to do so - as it is for many professionals now. With this path cut off - what is left to people who are just good professionals in their field, but maybe not exactly Nobel laureates? There is Green card lottery, but being a lottery, it's not ideal for life planning, and it doesn't account for one's professional achievements.

Become exceptional.

Having a degree and expertise isn't sufficient. There needs to be a reason a US company should hire you over a domestic applicant.

Do you think US companies decide whom to hire for no reason? Not being available for interviews locally, not speaking English natively and needing a visa sponsorship already puts you at disadvantage compared to the local talent. If they still decide to go for you, there sure is a reason.

The reason is often money. Even with visa sponsorship. Perhaps $100k is too much, but ~$5k is too little.

The $100k fee basically makes it not about money. It's going to be more expensive to hire a foreign worker - meaning that if they're chosen over a domestic applicant, it's for a real reason, not just because they'll take a lower salary.