AI Engineers who moved abroad from India without higher studies — how did you do it?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working as an AI Engineer in India with about 2.5 years of experience. My long-term goal is to move abroad for work, but I’m not planning to do a Master’s there as i already have masters in AI. I’m hoping to move through direct job applications with visa sponsorship.

My plan is to prepare for the next 1–2 years, improve my skills, and then start applying internationally.

I wanted to ask people here who have actually managed to move abroad from India as AI/ML or software engineers:

- How did you do it?

- Which countries did you target?

- Where did you apply for jobs? (LinkedIn, company websites, recruiters, etc.)

- At what experience level did you get sponsorship?

- Did companies interview you directly from India?

Also, if anyone knows companies that regularly hire engineers from India with visa sponsorship, that would be very helpful.

Another small thing: I’m a female engineer, and I’m curious if that made any difference (positive or negative) during the process for anyone.

Would really appreciate hearing about your real experience, strategies, or mistakes to avoid. Thanks!