toula

Hello,

Just a really quick question which I'm wondering if anyone has an answer to.

I understand that the majority of visa's require a offer of employment, however if you are self-employed, eg freelance, and don't work for specific companies or have your own business, what is the deal with applying for visa's.

I work freelance in the film industry, but would be looking for relocate permanently, with my partner who also works freelance.

Thank you in advance.

dbj1000

There is no visa for freelancers. Check the Wiki.

ian-mstm

While I may be mistaken, I believe that all employment-based visas require a US sponsor. You might want to look at an investment visa if you have lots of $$ to risk.

Here's a thought... you can, I believe, do a self-employed visa to Canada - which has quite a thriving film business both in Toronto and Vancouver. Once there, your options (and certainly your US contacts) increase tenfold. Focus on the long-term goal.

Ian

scrubbedexpat099

O 1?

.

snowbunny

Possibly - have you won any Academy Awards? Major film festival awards, eg Cannes, Sundance, etc?

scrubbedexpat099

Well I have not.

Hopefully the OP has

memiek

I know what is said about an O1 but there are so many actors who have never won any big (or small) prize and still get a visa (presumably O1, don't know what other visa would do for them)) to see if their career can take off in Hollywood. They take acting classes, do some minor film work and if things don;t work out you see them returning to their home country. So, do you really, absolutely have to be a winner of some big price or might it be enough if you can show evidence that, in your home country, you're somewhat famous for acting?

dbj1000

I imagine that the vast majority of the people you're describing are here on student visas. The O1 visa category requires proof of real exceptional skills.

caleyjag

I can promise you that the O1 application is a non-trivial matter.

In fact, it's a complete nightmare.

Anyway, I'm dealing with it from a science/engineering angle. Here's the deal for approaching it from an arts perpective:

http://www.artistsfromabroad.org/imm...aordinary.html


Good luck!

caleyjag

From what I can gather, from staying in youth hostels in hollywood, the vast majority do not have any visas at all!

Bladerunner

You can work freelance on an "I" media visa as long as you have a letter from an editor and a copy of a freelance agreement

toula

thankyou for that Bladerunner, really helpful.

Kate2112

As an I Visa holder you can only work for the employer who submitted the visa application.