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Hi Peter, thanks for doing this!

As a Brit with 10 years experience as a developer but no degree, do I have any hope at all of being able to come and work in the USA?

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Absolutely. The requirements for an H-1B visa are a bachelor's degree or its equivalent based on ducation and/or experience and you might have the equivalent of a bachelor's degree (although typically 12 years of experience are required). Also, you might qualify for an O-1 visa if you have a strong background or even an E-2 visa through a British-owned company in the US.

I may be able to claim 12 years if I'm allowed to include my time creating Flash games for small amounts of money in my late teens.

Is that sort of thing counted as experience or do they mean permanent employment only?

Sometimes yes, sometimes now. It can depend on the sufficiency of the documentation confirming this work.

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