Media (I) Visa - Anyone with experience or knowledge?
Thanks for the help received in my other thread. I have searched for the forum for threads specific to this Visa and did not find very much. I hope people don't mind me starting another thread just to differentiate and grab the attention of anyone with knowledge or experience of this Visa who wouldn't otherwise see my other thread.
---------------------------------------------- I guess I'm asking for two types of people: i) Anyone that has entered the US with an I Visa. Especially as a freelance. ii) Anyone with a working knowledge of the Visa. The criteria for the I Visa comes across as fairly simple. If I could show US Immigration that I have a contract to conduct newsgathering in the US for a UK audience then I will be able to get in for a year and renew it yearly thereafter. However surely it isn't that simple!! Questions include: a) How difficult is it to prove that the work you are contracted to do is Visa-worthy? b) Is it very hard to renew year after year and do they eventually get fed up of you stringing them along and are likely to deny your request eventually even if your work contract is still the same? c) What is the cost to an employer (my freelance commissioner) and how long does it take for the Visa application to be granted? I'm sure I'll think of other questions as this thread continues, but I'd love to hear from somebody that has got in on an I Visa, especially as a freelance. |
Re: Media (I) Visa - Anyone with experience or knowledge?
Originally Posted by RobertJMac
(Post 6431624)
Thanks for the help received in my other thread. I have searched for the forum for threads specific to this Visa and did not find very much. I hope people don't mind me starting another thread just to differentiate and grab the attention of anyone with knowledge or experience of this Visa who wouldn't otherwise see my other thread.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1276.html |
Re: Media (I) Visa - Anyone with experience or knowledge?
Sort of explains many questions I have regarding Journalism, especially when it comes to immigration issues.
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Re: Media (I) Visa - Anyone with experience or knowledge?
Originally Posted by RobertJMac
(Post 6431624)
I'd love to hear from somebody that has got in on an I Visa, especially as a freelance.
Ian |
Re: Media (I) Visa - Anyone with experience or knowledge?
Originally Posted by ian-mstm
(Post 6431782)
Off the top of my head, I really don't recall anyone going for an I visa and posting in these forums. You might want to also ask the question on the two big Usenet newsgroups: alt.visa.us and misc.immigration.usa.
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Re: Media (I) Visa - Anyone with experience or knowledge?
That link answered a lot of my initial questions Ray... now all I am wondering is if the whole thing is feasible.
The first part of the struggle would obviously still be getting a freelance contract to 'newsgather' in the US. I have a couple of contacts who I do politically-geared work for on occasion, and obviously plan to make many more contacts like this in the next year or two. I assume covering matters of US politics could quite easily class as newsgathering as opposed to entertainment (which is exempt from the I Visa) The bigger struggle would be the logistics of it all. For a start, I would be living in the US but getting paid into a UK bank account. How would that work and would I be taxed twice? Firstly PAYE in the UK and then when transfering my money (which would class as income) to the US. Plan A is still to get a sponsoring job offer from a US company... but while I spend the next year contacting anyone I can think of, I'd also like to consider this back-up option. |
Re: Media (I) Visa - Anyone with experience or knowledge?
Originally Posted by RobertJMac
(Post 6436409)
How would that work and would I be taxed twice?
Ian |
Re: Media (I) Visa - Anyone with experience or knowledge?
Well, that's good news for a start.
If I got granted an I Visa for one particular work contract, am I restricted from doing any other work while in the US? The main reason I ask is because even full time freelancing is not exactly the most well paid of jobs - although I would of course have the exchange rate going in my favour. I would be tempted to supplement my income with a second job, but I am guessing this is probably illegal and not an option? Would I not be allowed to accept paid freelance commissions from US clients? Would I be allowed to accept supplementary commissions from UK clients and carry out the work in the US? Surely that would be too easy to be true? :frown: |
Re: Media (I) Visa - Anyone with experience or knowledge?
Originally Posted by RobertJMac
(Post 6436409)
For a start, I would be living in the US but getting paid into a UK bank account. How would that work and would I be taxed twice? Firstly PAYE in the UK and then when transfering my money (which would class as income) to the US.
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Re: Media (I) Visa - Anyone with experience or knowledge?
Originally Posted by RobertJMac
(Post 6437485)
Well, that's good news for a start.
If I got granted an I Visa for one particular work contract, am I restricted from doing any other work while in the US? The main reason I ask is because even full time freelancing is not exactly the most well paid of jobs - although I would of course have the exchange rate going in my favour. I would be tempted to supplement my income with a second job, but I am guessing this is probably illegal and not an option? Would I not be allowed to accept paid freelance commissions from US clients? Would I be allowed to accept supplementary commissions from UK clients and carry out the work in the US? Surely that would be too easy to be true? :frown: |
Re: Media (I) Visa - Anyone with experience or knowledge?
I was under the impression that in cases such as this, where you are covered by a double taxation treaty and do not have immigrant status or a SS number you are exempted from filing a US tax return. You get an ITIN instead of a SS number.
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Re: Media (I) Visa - Anyone with experience or knowledge?
Originally Posted by Bladerunner
(Post 6443466)
I was under the impression that in cases such as this, where you are covered by a double taxation treaty and do not have immigrant status or a SS number you are exempted from filing a US tax return.
So, all those undocumented alien workers in CA, NM, AZ, and TX - even though they have no legal immigrant status, are still required to file a tax return (assuming they have sufficient income). I agree it's somewhat ludicrous in that situation considering that they are trying to stay under the radar... but hey... this is the USA - we welcome ludicrous! :) Ian |
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