thurlow

Hello all,

I am a British film producer and want to move to New York early next year. I have had a look at the confusing and sparse info at the London US Embassy website and have ascertained that I'm likely to be classed as a professional but doubt I would be classed as having an 'extraordinary ability'. Putting that slight against my character aside for one moment, would someone be kind enough to help me work out what type of visa I should apply for?

I would like to live in NY for longer than 90 days but don't know yet if this means living there permanently.

I intend to carry on working in my industry when in NY, if that helps my status as a professional.

Here's hoping some kindly soul will help me in a rather confusing mess of information,

Thurlow

P.S. Apologises if this is a regular question that crops up and/or if I've missed an obvious link/thread/etc. Feel free to drop me a link and delete this thread if needed.

Manc

surely by being married to Madonna you can DCF?

dbj1000

You make the visa sound like it's a formality, and you're already planning your move. Unfortunately it isn't, and based on what little information you've provided so far, you won't be moving any time soon.

Read this Wiki article and tell us which visa you think you may be eligible for, and we can start to give you more advise.

Folinskyinla

Hi:

Your posting is extremely vague and confusing.

This is one of those situations where proceeding on your own is not recommended. There are several that engage in entertainment type of visas.

The syntax of your posting is not the clearest. You note that someone has "slight[ed]" you by a determination that you are not "extraordinary" but don't give the source while seeming to suggest that this is solely from your reading of of the London Embassy's web-site. Also, you are quite vague about your plans -- the details are important.

dbj1000

He slighted his own character by making the determination that he's not of extraordinary ability. He should hope that he's wrong.

Personally, I'm almost starting to prefer the American trait of over-self-confidence to the British preference for lacking it. I'm considering having "Exceptional Ability" tattooed across my forehead, with my University crest tattooed on my bicep so I don't feel left out when surrounded by people wearing "Harvard Business School" t-shirts, "MIT" baseball caps and "Rhodes Scholar" flip-flops at the gym!

thurlow

Lol. It'll try and be more straight forward and less... British.

Thanks for the linkdbj1000. Very useful.

Sorry for the lack of detail - I'm still figuring a lot of this out (the system and my plans).

Is there an official definition of 'extraordinary ability'? It may be straightforward in a medical or technical industry but in the arts it can be vague and down to personal taste.

Manc

extraordinary ability.

I would imagine that's like Oscar winners and the like.

Elvira

But Mr F's post also suggests this may not be clear-cut.

However:

"This is one of those situations where proceeding on your own is not recommended."

Manc

There was a case on here awhile back where Jack Penate's drummer had trouble getting an O visa.

Now if a member of a Brit award winning performers band has trouble....
then someone whom woke up this morning and though "I think I'd like to move to america" has no chance.

just my tuppence obviously, but that's how I read it.

snowbunny

This is certainly not definitive, but to the original poster:

do your peers know your name and your work? Are you the subject of namechecking/name-dropping? Are you well known to your American peers?

Definitely not a DIY visa, but the above questions might help you figure out how "extraordinary" you are.

Manc: you have to be "well known" in your field (in the US).... or have a record label behind you to even get a P visa.

Elvira

LOL you're probably right.

Ray

Go these these people in London ...and layout your plan ..

http://www.usvisalawgroup.com/

thurlow

Snowbunny: Sadly not, so I think that answers that. Incidentally, anyone reading this and wanting to know a bit more about the TV/film 'extraordinary abilities' definition should look at this http://www.visabureau.com/america/ex...aspx#O1FAQfour.

Ray: That's very handy, thanks.

To everyone who helped: Thank you!

thurlow

Snowbunny: Sadly not. In my research I found this http://www.visabureau.com/america/ex...aspx#O1FAQfour which gives some helpful advice.

Ray: That's very useful, thanks.

To everyone who helped: Thank you!

MsElui

you also mentioned 30 days - which suggests your talking about the visa waiver program (vwp). On that program you cannot work. you could attend interviews and the like but not accept or perform a job that normally you would be paid for (so volunteering to do it unpaid wont cut it either). Also - at the end of 90 days you need to have left the country or its classed as an overstay and a blight on any future immigration events.

to apply for a visa you need to be out of the country too.