Hello, fellow Kiwi. I married an American (in 1996, simpler times) and most of the immigration bullshit just melted away. (Still married 23 years later, with kids off to uni, so be careful of the possible consequences of your actions!)
Another way in is to work for a year or two for an international subsidiary of an American company, which can then bring you to the USA under a different category of visa. That's an L1-B and you get five years in the USA.
Various immigration sites eg https://www.path2usa.com/h1b-visa-petition-requirements tell me you're buggered if you don't have an equivalent formal degree to a USA 4-year Bachelors. AWS, work experience, diplomas, certificates ... don't seem to cut it. For the best info, talk to an American immigration lawyer who deals with this day in and day out. (Ask friends who have done what you want to do for a recommendation, or look back through HN archives for recommendations)
Another way in is to work for a year or two for an international subsidiary of an American company, which can then bring you to the USA under a different category of visa. That's an L1-B and you get five years in the USA.
Various immigration sites eg https://www.path2usa.com/h1b-visa-petition-requirements tell me you're buggered if you don't have an equivalent formal degree to a USA 4-year Bachelors. AWS, work experience, diplomas, certificates ... don't seem to cut it. For the best info, talk to an American immigration lawyer who deals with this day in and day out. (Ask friends who have done what you want to do for a recommendation, or look back through HN archives for recommendations)