Sample point of 1 here, but I just got "hired" by a US company with no point of presence in my country. They use a firm called CXC Global. Basically, I'm an employee of CXC offering consulting services to their client company.
It's not like a typical staffing agency arrangement in that I interviewed with the US company, negotiated with the US company, got an offer letter (of "engagement", not "employment") with the US company, etc - CXC only came in at the final stage.
It's not like a typical staffing agency arrangement in that I interviewed with the US company, negotiated with the US company, got an offer letter (of "engagement", not "employment") with the US company, etc - CXC only came in at the final stage.
So, that may help with the visa options.
Also, check out https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16768024 for more recent discussion.