Carolineclair

Thank you Ridski and Veronica these are exactly the type of things im looking for, ill be sure to make notes of all of these. Celsius thank you, i have actually seen a lot of America in fact nearly every state on the east coast and i can honestly say New York wouldnt be my first choice but it is where he lives and i want to see more of where he lives!

veronica jayne

I forgot to say that South Street seaport has music and the water taxi, as it is by the Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan side) there are amazing views of the bridge. There are rock or rap bands, harpists, depending on the day. I have been here many years and never tire of it. It was all re-done in the 70's. The best shopping mall in NY, many hand crafted things, restaurants on balconies overlooking the river where you can watch the boats and yachts sail out, a few English pubs, a Museum shop, really, great place.

This is the Brit Consulate site and on the right gives British Organizations in NY (I belong to about 4 of these)
http://www.britainusa.com/ny/article...=34014&a=39601
They often have fun events for everyone.

veronica jayne

I live round the corner from the park so it is my back garden!!! Always something going on here, usually free. Concerts, opera, ballet. Saturdays and Sundays there are bands playing all over the park, jugglers, opera singers rehearsing, everything. Go to Strawberry Fields, the boat lake, the Bethesda Fountain

http://www.centralparknyc.org/thenandnow

veronica jayne

veronica jayne

Roland Hulme

If you're on a tourist visa (either Visa Waiver or B2 visa) you CANNOT do any official volantary work while you're there. If you get caught doing paid or volantary work while there, you'll be banned outright for 10 years.

New York is a wonderful, wonderful city, though. If you get the chance to spend two months there, it sounds like a DREAM. I'd recommend the Central Park Zoo - see the penguins and the little ginger panda. Go up the Empire State Building. Check out all the lego at Toys R Us in Time Square.

Just don't be careless and screw up your chances of living there permanantly. Make sure you're TOTALLY upfront with the immigration guys because if you get caught out with one little lie they have the authority to boot your ass back across the atlantic. I know - they did it to me. Back and forth across the atlantic in 18 hours.

Bob

The thing is, your not moving to the US for two months, your visiting, otherwise bloke at POE would probably bounce you.

You can look for work while on the VWP, but I wouldn't actually do any work.

Voluntary work would be work that would not ordinarily be a paid position.

Try helping out at an animal shelter, soup kitchen...that sort of thing...

Bob

not exactly right, you can do trade shows, set things up, lecture etc, all perfectly legal on the VWP.

Roland Hulme

Short business trips is how they class it. For people who have to fly to New York for a business meeting or, as you put it, a trade show or something.

All fine - as long as you're not getting paid through the USA.

Big D

There are a million things to do here in the big apple - but be careful. What do you actually want to achieve while here - doing the tourist thing is great, and a brilliant opportunity - but it is nothing like actually living here. Doing the museums etc will probably not be a good indicator of whether you want to live here permanently - which I think is what you said was your objective.

It isnt easy meeting people/friends in the city without the work network - but gym, clubs, classes that kind of thing might be a good start. Will you actually be living in the city or the burbs?

Sorry - dont mean to sound negative!

The Not for tourists mentioned before is excellent and well worth buying the 'real' book!

Good luck!

Bob

you can for those kinds of business, because it isn't salaried, expenses are okay too....but your right, for what the OP is looking for, it's shaky grounds, but if she got married to a USC and AOS'ed, work on the dodge, as over stays are usually forgiven, though I wouldn't recommend it.

Jerseygirl

My husband used to fly to the US most weeks for 2 years on the VWP working for US clients.

I think there is a limit to the amout of days you can do that in a one year period.

Roland Hulme

Wow. How did he get paid?

I was warned that a US paycheque could cause problems.

I think I skirted the rules too, but I got paid in US Dollars while working in Paris, so I'm not quite sure what the grounding was.

My French bank account processed US cheques in 4 days. Nat West took 28 days. What's that all about???:curse:

Jerseygirl

Partner in a large international company. The client paid the US branch of the company...they had no one here who could do the job. He was paid by the British company in sterling. All above board...he didn't exceed the required number of days.

Tracym

From what I know, there isn't a actual limit on the days. A rough guideline is more time out than in. And then it's just up to the agent at the POE.

And to the OP - make sure you try cheesecake, and (gigantic) deli sandwiches. And the New Yorkers would brag about their pizza (tho us Chicagoans would disagree lol).