u/Ehicem

23, French citizen, 2 years at Google in Europe (SWE then sales engineer). Partner is in SF and I want to land a US sponsored role and relocate in the next 6 months if at all possible. Open to any tech role where my SWE plus sales engineer background fits.

Where I am on the obvious paths:

• L1B internal transfer: blocked until 2027. I changed roles internally and they require 2 years in the new role first.
• H1B lottery: best case start is mid 2027. Too slow.
• E2 treaty investor: looks dead. Every French scale up I screened fails the substantial ownership test once US VCs lead the Series A and beyond. The clean path runs through large French public groups (defense, aerospace) which is a clear career step backward.

I've got active conversations with US tech employers that sponsor (AI labs, AI infra, dev tools). Warm referrals on most.

Questions:

1. Any visa category I'm sleeping on??

2. Any chance for O1?

Thanks.

I have 2y at Google in Europe, French citizen. Partner is in SF and I want a US sponsored role in the next 6 months (hopefully, if possible). Open to any role where my SWE + sales engineer background fits.

• L1B internal transfer is blocked till 2027 (I changed role and they require 2y time in role).
• H1B lottery puts me at mid 2027. Way too slow.
• E2 looks dead. Every French scale up I checked fails the ownership test once US VCs lead the Series A and beyond.
• O1A is the fast path but I'm light on criteria today.

A few warm referrals running at AI labs, AI infra, and dev tools shops. Mix of SA, SE, and FDE.

1. Any visa category I'm sleeping on??

2. Which US employers actually fast track O1s for ICs?

3. Do Bay Area hiring managers seriously look at EU based candidates, or is it a wall until I'm physically there?

4. Worth burning 3 to 6 months in parallel on O1 evidence (publication, judging, talks)?

5. Honest timeline from to signed US offer for my profile?