Re:Ask HN: Visas beside the H-1B for working in the United S...
by winter_blue on Wednesday November 13, 2013 @02:45AM
(#6723915)
I am aware of that visa. But it requires you to work for them for atleast a year. In addition, the L-1 is only for executives and managers. The L-2 visa, which is for normal employees, has no transferability (unlike the H-1B), so it ties you down to that particular to employer. If loose your job or resign, you have to leave the country immediately.
You can however perform an adjustment of status (AOS) to H-1B, while working on an L-2 -- but it requires going through the H-1B lottery, wait times, and all that nonsense. In comparison, Germany gives highly-skilled a work visa in 7 days (cf. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6648443).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-1_visa