fiski

Petition for H-1B, win the lottery and switch over to H-1B from L-1A so that you can stay on it indefinitely till you get GC

I-140 has nothing to do with L or H visa. I-140 approval notice has employer name in it. So, yes, it is tagged to the employer.

1) You need to win the H-1B lottery and then can do a CoS (Change of Status) to from L-1A to H-1B. If you don't have H-1B approved petition in hand, you can't do a CoS and have to wait for next year's lottery. 2) You'll retain your I140 priority date but your H-1B employer will need to file for I140 again. And this time you can't apply for EB1C since won't meet EB1C criteria with new employer.