> For the past few years, the visas haven't run out until after October, so you can really apply anytime.
Well, last year it ran out in June. I was interviewing at an American company but we stopped the process because of that.
I'm aware of L1 but that would be extremely hard to pull off. I live in Japan (though not a Japanese citizen), and it's very hard enough to get a programming job at a good American company here in the first place. Mostly they hire in sales & bizdev etc, not much for software development. Then I would have to hope to be transferred. I have heard of companies hiring specifically to transfer but that's quite rare.
The other visas aren't available to citizens of my country (E3 etc), or I don't personally qualify to them (O1 etc).
2) and 3) are reassuring.
And yes, I'll be in touch!