Do option 1 and the distance ATPL (H) like whirlycopter said earlier. But to save time in the J-1 visa you can go on a 1-3 month holiday to USA and do the PPL part, then go back home and apply for J-1 visa, then when you get back to USA with your J-1 visa you can start your CPL training.
Hope that this is not to confusing.
And I think its more important to have more hours rather than lots of ratings. Because when we have more hours we will not be anymore low time pilots
(at least not as low)