Dubai to US relocation for Rust / protocol engineering: what candidates underestimate (visa + runway + timelines)

I’m based in Dubai and I’m trying to understand a US relocation plan for Rust blockchain/protocol engineering roles.
On paper it looks simple: interview, get an offer, move. But the more I look into it, the more I feel the “middle part” is where people silently break—visa sponsorship timelines, start dates slipping, and the cost of waiting while everything is pending.

I’m not worried about learning or shipping. I’m worried about making a confident call, spending real money, and then ending up in months of limbo where I can’t plan my life properly.

I’d really value the unfiltered version from people who’ve hired globally or relocated themselves. What timeline should I realistically expect from first serious interview to actually starting work when sponsorship is involved? What runway do you think is safe before it becomes financially risky?

Do US protocol teams treat remote-first as a legit bridge or does the visa question just come back later? What are the most common mistakes candidates make in the first 60–90 days? And what “proof signals” help recruiters take a sponsorship-required Rust candidate seriously?