A bit of a unique situation

[Shane M. 0]

Hi, I'm a musical composer from Canada. I specialize in video game music specifically. A friend of mine recently hired me to score a video game she's developing, but it's a bit of an indie project. At the moment, we're the only two people working on the title despite the great progress it has made. She plans on registering an LLC (limited liability company) and she needs to move me down there so she can direct the project more easily.

Is there a visa that will enable this? Will it be costly?

[Allegra+Hadrien 2]

Hey I work in film music! My friends were telling me something about an artist visa the other day. If I find more info on it I'll let u know....I think u need to have a project and since u have one, it might be the best thing for you. The other way is to have your client get you in on a work visa. It costs about 1000 bucks. Tht would probably be the quickest way to get here.

Edited November 11, 2011 by Allegra+Hadrien

[Jojo92122 1,924]

Hi, I'm a musical composer from Canada. I specialize in video game music specifically. A friend of mine recently hired me to score a video game she's developing, but it's a bit of an indie project. At the moment, we're the only two people working on the title despite the great progress it has made. She plans on registering an LLC (limited liability company) and she needs to move me down there so she can direct the project more easily.

Is there a visa that will enable this? Will it be costly?

Your friend has essentially two choices; 1) hire you as an independent contractor - you live and work in Canada; or 2) hire an attorney to pursue a work visa for you.

In your line of work, you can do things remotely - meaning you don't have to physically be in the US to do the work. This is distinctly different from a doctor who has to see patients or an engineer who is working on a computer system physically in the US. You could work remotely whereas the doctor and engineer may not.

To obtain a work visa for you, your friend would need to get a Dept. of Labor certification that no US resident is qualified or available to do the job and there is a need to bring you, the foreign worker, to the US. This process can cost $5000 or more.

Given the nature of the work you do which does not require you to physically be at the employer's place of work, it is very unlikely that you will qualify for a work visa.

Edited November 11, 2011 by Jojo92122

[Shane M. 0]

Don't most work visas need credentials? I imagine it'd be hard to make a case for me with a work visa...

[Jojo92122 1,924]

Don't most work visas need credentials? I imagine it'd be hard to make a case for me with a work visa...

Yes. Most work visas require at least a college degree.

[Shane M. 0]

And this artist visa, it pretty much requires me to be critically-acclaimed, correct?

[Boiler 45,519]

I sort of presumed you are.

I do not understand why you need to move, big plus in your line of work is that you do not.

[BlueBonnet 84]

My understanding of it too is that she has to prove why no American can do the job.

[Inky 1,110]

Does TN visa not work for this situation? Its specifically for Canadians.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

And this artist visa, it pretty much requires me to be critically-acclaimed, correct?

No. But if it is what I am familiar with it is not for you. An artist's visa allows you to come to the US and work for a specific time in performances or modeling. If the Toronto Orchestra came to perform in New York and their members were paid, they would need this visa.

Alla gets one for Canada that allows her to model for photo shoots when she goes there. It is $75 for ONE day. (in Canada)

The work visa (H) is the one you would need and that has already been covered. This allows you to come here to do a specific job for a specific time, I do not know all the details but you could research it at the USCIS website.