Saturday, July 18, 2009

question 137: I’ve been trying to relocate to LA, from Scotland. How do I get round the catch 22 situation of requiring a VISA to work in the US...

it continues...
and first needing to secure work in order to get a VISA?

Now, I've coached many people who've moved from other countries, however, I've never had to coach them in regards to a VISA because at the point they were working with me, they were okay to work.

So, I did what I coach my clients to do... I asked others what they knew about it. Here are the two responses I got:

1. Does the Scottsman have a reel on a website? Perhaps that will help him land the job. Get some fan-base.

2. H1 Visas can be obtained, but the applicant needs to prove that they are uniquely qualified to fill the position and their skills are not easily obtained in the local marketplace. They also need to be "Sponsored" by the hiring entity...That means being paid on a W2. After a few years, the applicant can apply for residency. However, if the job ends, the applicant has approx. 60 days to find a new Sponsor or leave the country. In the IT Consulting world many people from India are pay the hiring company to put them, or keep them, on the payroll. It is a loophole in the system. I hope this helps...

After reading the second response, I wonder if the person who asked this question can get a job doing something other than directing/DPing/editing, in order to work in the US. Then create relationships with people who can hire you in your craft while you're here until you have the connections to secure an entertainment job.

My other advice is to reach out to people who've made the transition successfully and find out how they did it. You don't have to know the people, just where to send a letter. Then personalize each one with who you are, what you do, and where you'd like to be. Further explain your question about the catch 22 and ask if they'd be willing to correspond with you to tell you how they did it successfully.

If anyone else has a helpful comment, please let me know so I can share it.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry coach, The Greenlight Coach, visit www.theGreenlightCoachBlog.com

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