Alternative to H1B

I think you're asking how to immigrate to US rather than how to work for a US based company. Marry an American - it's only $10K. I'm joking, of course, but it's the easiest!

I would recommend looking into Canada as an alternative.

Find an employer who has local offices in India. This will rule out startups or very small companies. Work for them for at least a year. Do a great job. Convince your team/manager to apply for an L1B visa.

Right now, every visa is a hassle. It is unreal how much of a bottleneck US Immigration system has become - no visa appointment slots for months, or years in some cases.

Then, if you do get a H1, you will likely never get a Green card given the current rules.

For short term (5-7 years), you may surely consider getting some sort of work visa. Long term, if you are looking for PR, US is not the one to look at for Indians.

I am in mid 30s, got PR approval 5 years ago. At current rate, I will retire and still not have a PR. It’s ridiculous, but not funny at all.

Extraordinary ability O-1. Get a PhD, a few notable publications and conference talks, 5-7 recommendation letters from credited industry professionals + some other paperwork and you should be all set.

People are recommending L1B but you need to keep in mind that it’s not portable like H1B so you will depend on EAD/AP which is a precarious situation to be in.

Intra-company transfer, but it's more restricted than H1B - the hassle falls on your employer though.

EB-5 Visa

L1?