Ask YC: Non-US founders

I am from Russia and would like to apply to YCombinator. As far as I know, you can get to work in your own startup in the USA only if you

- are a student (J1 visa, not even sure if this works),

- plan to invest $100K in the US (E-type visa),

- can be considered an "alien of extraordinary ability",

- a US-based company that has an overseas office transfers you from there to US (O-visa)

As far as I know, the founders of YC-funded companies who came from abroad used one of the above methods.

Neither of the above is a way I could go (not a student, don't have $100K, do not qualify as alien of extraordinary ability, don't have an established company in the US).

I assume that it is impossible to start a company and work for it without a work permit in the USA, so YCombinator would not even consider my application.

So, are there any other ways to get to YC for foreigners?

And on a related note, what countries are more friendly to foreigners and have a startup community at the same time? I've only heard of Canada.

Thank you, really, for any advice!

--Nikita