Visas...

We are proud to have a 100% success rate with EVERYONE we have helped with Work Visas and Green Cards.

In 6 years of business every single person whose case was taken on by a lawyer we recommended successfully gained a Visa or Green Card or in some cases both.

If you have a consultation with the lawyer and he does not think you are ready - we will give you a free 10pg Visa booklet to help you build your case for the future.

What is a visa?

To obtain any paid work in the United States of America as a foreign citizen, you will need a work visa.

A work Visa is a document attached to your passport proving you have permission by the US Immigration to obtain paid work in their country.

With the work visa a whole world of opportunities in the States opens up... you are now legally allowed to work! In addition, a work visa solves most logistical problems such as:

Being able to stay in the country for long periods of time.

Being able to enter and exit the country as you please.

Being able to open up a bank account, a mobile phone account, get a drivers liscence.

Get a lease on an apartment.

Get a credit card and build up credit ... etc. etc.

If you don't obtain a work visa and your country has good relations with the US, you can enter the country on a 'visa waiver' or tourist visa... but this typically means you can stay in the country no longer than 3 months and of course you're not allowed to earn any money.

Who can get one?

 

Anyone with extraordinary ability and outstanding talent within their field. These guidelines can be confusing. How do you qualify and quantify extraordinary ability and outstanding talent? Which is why with the right help, information and lawyer it becomes possible to secure a visa and without, can prove impossible. Harsh but true.

The visa you will need is for three years in duration and is extendable after that time, or you can go on to apply for a Green Card.

As a person in the entertainment industry the visa you will need to obtain is the O1 visa for people of extraordinary ability and outstanding talent in their field within entertainment. This visa is for three years in duration and as mentioned earlier extendable after that time. The most difficult problem most people first hit upon is that typically you require both a sponsor and an actual job offer to obtain a Visa.

There are two kinds of O1 visa, an open one and a closed one. An open one means you can work on the job you got it for and ANY other work in that field for 2 years afterwards. The closed O1 means you can only do that one specific job.

Once you have this you can then get your Social Security Number (Tax File Number) which is used to identify you in the States for pretty much everything from your mobile phone account to your tax returns.

How long does it take to get one?

Work visas can take from anywhere up to 9 months to obtain, with backlogs, to as little as 3-4weeks. The US Immigration can speed up the process to around 3 weeks if you pay them an extra $1000, and yes i am serious, it's true!...it's called 'fast processing'!

However even this 3-4 week time frame is dragged out by a necessary appointment with the US Embassy in your own country, handing over your passpart, waiting to have it sent back and then coming to America and taking a trip in person to the Social Security Office and then waiting up to 30 days for them to send you your card.

There are many different kinds of visas that can be obtained; the H1b visa, which is quite specific and only really allows co-star roles; the L1 visas for business etc. Be wary of student visas, as most only really extend the amount of time you are allowed to be in the country, but do not give you the ability to gain paid work... thus meaning you are essentially living off your savings the entire time you are in the country.

Great for an extended holiday, not a career.

How did I get mine?

Visas are not easy to obtain, although I truly believe it's possible for most people to get one with the right information, the right lawyer and a little bit of planning, work and effort.

Eligibility for a visa is decided on a case by case basis and is compiled into a case pack showing your resume, reviews, press cuttings, awards, training, letters of recommendation, letters of invitation to prestigious events, memberships, etc. etc. Although only hard paper is considered and show reels, on-line websites etc. will not be viewed.

A sponsor and an offer of work is required to secure a work visa for the States. This means a manager or agent who wants to work with you and is willing to sponsor you, and an actual work offer and contract of employment for an acting job in the USA. Both not easy to get.

To compile your visa case you should employ an American Immigration lawyer and the lawyer should be based in the States. but choose one carefully a badly prepared case can lose you your visa.

Finding a lawyer

Probably the most important decision to make in your visa case is your choice of lawyer, as he/she will be helping you compile your case, editing it and applying to the US immgration for you.

Find a lawyer with an excellent track record, who is reasonably priced and reputable.

To find one you can search on-line. The prices for a visa generally range anywhere from US$4,000 to US$7,000 depending on the visa and the lawyer. Do beware of lawyers who seem very cheap or who seem overly optimistic without having yet studied your case.

We can recommend you to the lawyer who has gained Work Visas and Green Cards for over 300 Clients. (100% Success Rate) and he also has been kind enough to offer any Make it America client a free O1 sample case to see what you will need to compile.

Work permits and beyond

Getting your work visa is definitely an excellent step towards obtaining your green card. The green card gives you even more freedom and the timing can work out perfectly between your visa expiring (after 3 years ) and your green card coming into action.

The free lunch

Yes, it is possible to marry someone and gain a green card or work eligibility status. But please note - "Title 8, United States Code, Section 1325, states that any individual who knowingly enters into a mariage contract for the purpose of evading any provisions of the immigration laws shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or fined not more than US$250,000, or both". The US immigration are definitely tightening up on fraudulent marriages. They employ stringent checks and you are not permitted to leave the country, if you intend on returning, without prior approval, whilst you wait for your conditional residency to come through. And this can take from anywhere up to a year or longer. Its highly illegal so please dont try it!

There is the Green Card lottery. British people can no longer apply, but other nationalalities can do so. Beware of websites that ask for a fee to apply for you. IT IS A FREE SERVICE WHICH YOU CAN APPLY FOR FREE ON A US GOVERNMENT SITE. Search online for more information (www.uscis.gov). But keep in mind... it is a LOTTERY afterall and if it were easy to win lotteries, I'd just advise buying regular lottery tickets, winning that and then with a 100 million in the bank you can live anywhere you want!!

Just as you could be sitting around waiting your life away in the hope of winning the lottery and you never do, you could be doing the same with Visas. So still start compiling your case (That bit wont cost you anything!) and then if you dont win, you can still get the work visa yourself.

To work in America you need a visa. It's a big decision to apply and it isn't easy, but fortunately it is possible and available if you get it right and work hard.

You can fill in the Immigration Lawyers form on this page, or go to the One2One consultation page to book a One2one to cover all aspects of your move.

Do note, as we are not lawyers and immigration laws change very quickly you should make sure you speak to a qualified immigration lawyer to gain all the information you require too!

Good Luck!