How hard would it be to get a US company to sponsor a visa?

[nsa]

I'm mid 40s with a family and have worked in the financial markets all my life. I'm currently in HK but have always wanted to live in the US. I'd like to live somewhere in the south and work in a different industry than finance.

If I turned up in Atlanta (say) and found a company that wants to take me on, how hard would it be for them to sponsor a working visa for me? I don't have any specific IT or STEM skills that are usually in demand. My idea would be to accept a lower paid position in return for sponsorship. Is this realistic?

I'm financially secure but I don't really want to invest in a business first thing.

[nsa]

Stigproducts, that's great info, thanks very much.

[nsa]

Understood. I'm probably looking at an internal transfer then. I might also consider some longer holidays there and maybe that scratches the itch.

Why would the $500k be a write-off?

[nsa]

My kids are nine and would pick up American accents if we lived there. While there’s nothing wrong with that I wouldn’t want it for them, or mid-Atlantic.

I had no plans to move to HK until an ex-employer offered me a job here nearly seven years ago. It’s been a great place to bring up kids but I’m a bit tired of it now. I’m eligible for Permanent Residency next January, which means I can work without a visa, and vote. Not that that means anything anymore. Kids here seem to acquire their parents’ accents.

Thanks everyone for the input, it’s been very helpful.