> Visa approval requires that paper to prove you're skilled.
There are ways to go around that - in some countries, US among them, you can count some years of specialized work experience in the field in lieu of formal education ("degree equivalence" - I believe). I got a work visa in Canada on that basis, and later L1, H1B, and finally a green card in US, without any degree.
With respect to US specifically, google for "USCIS three-for-one" for more on this.
