British Actors moving to the States
Mar 12th 2017, 5:57 am
#16
Country Member
Joined: May 2003
Location: Moved from Georgetown to Round Rock, Texas. 15 miles closer to civilization.
Posts: 936
Mar 12th 2017, 9:57 pm
#18
He/him
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: WA
Posts: 18,836
Re: British Actors moving to the States
On a related note. The Italian band "Soviet Soviet" were recently booted out of the States after arriving on ESTA with the plan to play promotional gigs without fee. I am seeing on line in many places horror at this story (Trump seems to take a lot of the blame), despite to the best of my knowledge that work (paid or unpaid) is not allowed on the visa waiver program.
Mar 13th 2017, 1:08 am
#19
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: British Actors moving to the States
On Tuesday, prominent immigration attorney Brian Taylor Goldstein, whose practice is centered on working with artists seeking to tour the U.S., published a lengthy article advising international musicians about the current — and shifting — challenges regarding immigration policy under the Trump administration. Goldstein wrote:
"Given that the new Order specifically requires heightened vetting and screening of those 'who seek to enter the United States on a fraudulent basis', there is going to be even more scrutiny and less forgiveness than ever before with regard to artists attempting to enter the US on visitor visas (B-1/B-2) or through the Visa Waiver Program ('ESTA'). We are already receiving reports of artists being held and detained for hours upon entering the US to determine whether or not they are performing. Even artists entering as visitors for the purpose of attending a conference or 'performing a showcase' are being pulled aside and, in many cases, being refused entry. Artists entering with B-1/B-2 visas or through the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) are being pulled aside the moment they say that they are 'entertainers', 'performers', or 'artists.' ... In short, an Immigration Officer has the unfettered authority and discretion to deny entry to any artist from any nationality for any reason. To what extent this authority will be exercised remains to be seen."
In a more hotly contested portion of his post, Goldstein also said that ESTA and visitor visas don't provide artists enough cover, even for unpaid work, and that their continued use by bands could spur serious consequences:
"Artists cannot perform on visitor visas (B-1/B-2) or through the Visa Waiver Program ("ESTA") regardless of whether or not they are being paid and regarding of whether or not tickets are sold. Except in the most narrowly defined circumstances, US immigration law has always defined "work" as it pertains to artists, as any kind of performance. Artists denied entry on the basis of fraud, will have a denied entry on their record, impeding future visas and travel."
Goldstein instead urged visiting bands to get "O" or "P" work visas designed for working entertainers.
"Given that the new Order specifically requires heightened vetting and screening of those 'who seek to enter the United States on a fraudulent basis', there is going to be even more scrutiny and less forgiveness than ever before with regard to artists attempting to enter the US on visitor visas (B-1/B-2) or through the Visa Waiver Program ('ESTA'). We are already receiving reports of artists being held and detained for hours upon entering the US to determine whether or not they are performing. Even artists entering as visitors for the purpose of attending a conference or 'performing a showcase' are being pulled aside and, in many cases, being refused entry. Artists entering with B-1/B-2 visas or through the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) are being pulled aside the moment they say that they are 'entertainers', 'performers', or 'artists.' ... In short, an Immigration Officer has the unfettered authority and discretion to deny entry to any artist from any nationality for any reason. To what extent this authority will be exercised remains to be seen."
In a more hotly contested portion of his post, Goldstein also said that ESTA and visitor visas don't provide artists enough cover, even for unpaid work, and that their continued use by bands could spur serious consequences:
"Artists cannot perform on visitor visas (B-1/B-2) or through the Visa Waiver Program ("ESTA") regardless of whether or not they are being paid and regarding of whether or not tickets are sold. Except in the most narrowly defined circumstances, US immigration law has always defined "work" as it pertains to artists, as any kind of performance. Artists denied entry on the basis of fraud, will have a denied entry on their record, impeding future visas and travel."
Goldstein instead urged visiting bands to get "O" or "P" work visas designed for working entertainers.
Mar 15th 2017, 3:52 am
#21
BE Irregular
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Tampa Bay Florida
Posts: 4,849
Re: British Actors moving to the States
It seems to me lately, every new TV show I watch has a Brit actor, quite often the star. I am a bit out of touch so do IMDB, and find they were in Eastenders or something. Lucifer, Ransom and Taken come to mind, but others too.
Mar 15th 2017, 4:07 am
#22
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Re: British Actors moving to the States
This isn't exactly news - Roger Rees was in Cheers, Ian McShane was in Dynasty, Deadwood, and a number of other TV shows, and Hugh Laurie starred in House. .... British actors have been popping up in American TV shows for almost as long as there's been TV. Before that there was Stan Laurel and Charlie Chaplin, among others, in Hollywood films.
Mar 15th 2017, 4:10 am
#23
Still alive
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 28,994
Re: British Actors moving to the States
The Affair. Two of the 4 lead actors are British. Dominic West and Ruth Wilson are both English
Mar 15th 2017, 4:20 am
#24
BE Irregular
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Tampa Bay Florida
Posts: 4,849
Re: British Actors moving to the States
This isn't exactly news - Roger Rees was in Cheers, Ian McShane was in Dynasty, Deadwood, and a number of other TV shows, and Hugh Laurie starred in House. .... British actors have been popping up in American TV shows for almost as long as there's been TV. Before that there was Stan Laurel and Charlie Chaplin, among others, in Hollywood films.
