tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18734173.post6279638986949248208..comments2024-03-23T14:36:56.227-04:00Comments on The Collaborative Piano Blog: Entering the US as a Staff Accompanist?Chris Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05248396106719265480noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18734173.post-22424797704455875162011-01-14T15:28:13.432-05:002011-01-14T15:28:13.432-05:00As a French accompanist living in the States, I kn...As a French accompanist living in the States, I know first hand how frustrating the whole experience is. I think that the problem is beyond being an accompanist, I think it's hard to be an immigrant artist. <br /><br />For example, people who get a degree in the States get a year long visa to work after graduation. Most people find a job and that employer will sponsor them for a work visa beyond that one year. However, when I had it, I worked freelance, so at the end of that year, none of my employers could sponsor me (they all wanted too, and were willing to do whatever, but there was no option with immigration). <br /><br />At the time, I considered getting an artist visa, but the lawyer I saw then said that my application wouldn't be strong enough to get it (you basically have to prove to people who know nothing about your field that you are "famous" in that field). <br /><br />So there I was, with a masters degree, employment, and not able to keep on working. So I went back to school for my doctorate with a student visa, but it was frustrating to see that other foreign friends around me with an undergrad would get a work visa easily because they were working "normal" jobs. <br /><br />I recently found out about a great resource for immigrants artists and wrote about it here: http://geraldineinabottle.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-make-it-in-states-as-foreign.html<br /><br />I wish things would get better for immigrant artists, but I honestly doubt they will. <br /><br />Geraldine<br />http://geraldineinabottle.blogspot.comGeraldinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11371410028619077502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18734173.post-64426897740891746732011-01-12T21:50:54.645-05:002011-01-12T21:50:54.645-05:00Thanks for that information, Brian. In case anyone...Thanks for that information, Brian. In case anyone needs to contact Brian about any immigration-oriented info at FTM Arts Law, you can check out this contact page:<br /><br />http://www.ftmartslaw-pc.com/ftm_contact.htmlChris Foleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05248396106719265480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18734173.post-87510717862891513722011-01-12T18:20:19.412-05:002011-01-12T18:20:19.412-05:00I'm Lucas's attorney. We practice exclusiv...I'm Lucas's attorney. We practice exclusively in the performing arts and, sadly, am very familiar with the frustrations of the anonymous accompanist. <br /><br />Unfortunately, the process for obtaining US visas for performers is an inherently frustrating and confusing process. However, in this case, it sounds like the real problem was that the university may have been trying to apply for the visa in the wrong category...or, at least, in a more difficult category for accompanists. <br /><br />Anytime you petition for an H-1B visa and the job does not very clearly require a BA, US Immigration is going to come back and want proof that other similarly-situated organizations require at least a BA. An H1-B, by its very nature, requires the applicant to have a BA, and, full-time versus part-time is irrelevant to the H-1B.<br /><br />There are NO arts-related occupations listed as a designated TN professions. College, university and seminary teachers are covered, but you would have to establish that the person is teaching classes, not solely working as an accompanist for students who are studying at the university/college.<br /><br />In practical terms, this is really just another example of why neither the H-1B nor TN is appropriate for artists. Arts managers/administrators, yes, but not actual performers...especially because neither the H1B nor the TN allows a "performer" to actual "perform" outside of the college or university. This is why performer visas such as the O-1 or P-3 may be a better choice. <br /><br />While there's really ho excuse for the US to make it this complicated or ridiculous, its more an issue of indifference to the arts, as opposed to outright hostility. <br /><br />For anyone interested in more information on obtaining US visas for foreign artists, check out www.ftmartslaw-pc.com and www.artistsfromabroad.orgBrian Taylor Goldsteinhttp://www.ftmartslaw-pc.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18734173.post-21829684070639838492011-01-12T09:16:51.154-05:002011-01-12T09:16:51.154-05:00Thanks Lucas! BTW you can call me Chris.Thanks Lucas! BTW you can call me Chris.Chris Foleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05248396106719265480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18734173.post-18676313610116542172011-01-11T23:13:18.254-05:002011-01-11T23:13:18.254-05:00I am also a Canadian who is now working in the US ...I am also a Canadian who is now working in the US (under the O-1 artist visa). As far as the visa is concerned, I am very very blessed with a highly-qualified lawyer who explained everything I need to know and guided me through the process. During my first visit to his office, he pretty much de-mythicized a lots of things which I had heard "in-the-air" and considered as common belief about the artist visa! Even till this day, he still follows up with circumstances and questions I have been having after my visa approval. <br /><br />Dr. Foley, nice blog! I read your blog everyday.<br /><br />Lucas Wong (lucas.t.wong@gmail.com)Lucas Wonghttp://www.lucaswongpiano.comnoreply@blogger.com