Thanks, that's helpful to know! Do you believe an O-1 would be equally easy to obtain whether I go into academics or industry? How reluctant are companies when it comes to interviewing someone who isn't presently in the US?
I am a PhD student (on F1-visa), who's more or less been offered a decent Post-doctoral fellowship in UK immediately after gradschool. What are the implications of this if I want to return to the US for either an industry or academic position? I know that I'd be giving up the OPT option if I accept the fellowship.