Are big tech companies not sponsoring H1B anymore?

Google and others have offices in Europe. I'd enquire about the possibility of starting in Europe and moving to _destination_ at a later time. Recruiters will invariably say "yeah, people do it all the time, it's no problem," but you'll want to independently figure out: out of everybody who wants to do this, how many actually achieve it, and how certain will your path be? At least talk to a hiring manager if there is one, they're the folks who own the follow through on this stuff (or inability to do so!) An internal transfer between teams will have the same timing issues as an external H1B hire, I imagine you want to land on a distributed team.

You can only apply for a fresh H1B once a year around April. It's a lottery with less than 30% chance of getting it. If a tech company wants to bring a European employee to the US they would have to wait until April, apply and if selected start work in October.

It's a lot of time and uncertainty so they don't do it unless you're already working in their EU office and come over on L1 or something.

Most H1B sponsorship is done for people already in the US on student visas (F1 OPT) or a transfer of an existing H1B visa that's been already through the lottery.

Your best bet would be to try for an O1 visa but they have their own set of odd requirements.

Last time I job hunted right before covid, this was a thing back then too. All the usual suspects (faangs & hot pre-ipos) said no and could only offer me Canada/UK and a transfer on L1 after a year (meaning I get stuck and underpaid with the companies for years). Today's H1B process is too much for most companies: 1-1.5 year wait time with <30% chance you'd get picked up in the lottery. So for now most are only open to sponsoring people already in the US and able to work somehow. Things might change when/if wage levels rules get implemented for H1B.

A couple firms hinted they could pull me through O1/EB2/3 but it seems like i didn't clear the interviews and in the meantime landed a US-sized offer in UK - London's finance can pay competitively if they want you.

For Google specifically you may want to consider their Zurich office - they pay on par with US and no visa needed for EU citizens. In a year you can transfer to US.

Unless you are super special I can’t see a company waiting, in this case, up to 13 months for you to be able to work for them. Especially when it’s an “if” because lottery is always in place as the cap is reached every year.

I’m on an H1B but I built a relationship as a contractor working remotely for years before going through the sponsorship.

I suspect current delays in US visa processing are unacceptable for the role you applied for (i.e., they need someone that can start soon for that position and they can't wait for your visa process).

It could be something specific to your position. Afaik h1b sponsorship is still ongoing for software roles.

Same for Uber etc. Last I heard the amount available was reduced with the Trump administration. Haven't verified anything, but yes I have experienced the same. I got offered a role from the same companies but in the EU.

Probably trying to pre-lowball you.