The H-1B lottery isn’t the only way to work in the US. Immigration expert Danielle Goldman, CEO and co-founder of Build Talent Labs, breaks down four visa pathways international talent can still use, including a cap-exempt H-1B with no lottery.
With the Microsoft green card suspension and a proposed $70,000 OPT fee making headlines this week, host Erick Espinosa asks what’s still working, with real examples.
Please note: this interview was recorded before DHS proposed new OPT fees on Oct. 8, 2026. The fee is not in effect, and comments are open until Nov. 9.
Chapters
0:00 The H-1B stories flooding the news
1:07 Why it looks so bad 1:53 Is it really as bad as it looks?
2:59 Door 1: Cap-exempt H-1B (no lottery)
4:47 The engineer who lost the lottery
5:58 Door 2: OPT for students
7:12 Door 3: Founding a company
8:07 Door 4: The O-1 visa
9:21 More doors: L-1, green cards, TN, J-1
10:20 Find your door
Guest: Danielle Goldman, Build Talent Labs: https://www.buildtalentlabs.com
Host: Erick Espinosa, Brains Byte Back by The Sociable
More on H-1B alternatives: https://sociable.co/business/as-the-h-1b-visa-cap-fills-here-are-some-other-visas-that-us-companies-can-use-to-hire-and-retain-essential-international-talent/
For information only. Not legal advice.
