P3 Visa having problems with Employer - Please help!!

[visagirl1976 0]

Hi everyone, really hope someone can give me a bit on information here and help!

I'm a London based musician and already have a P3 Visa. I was asked to come and work with a US based band and completed some gigs with them between September-November. Although I'm currently in the UK they have asked me to go back next year (between January - September). Trouble is they only have 6 gigs (at $75 a gig) between January - April and although accommodation is provided for me, on my time off I am expected to pay my way (and bill obviously!) and on such a small amount of money it's impossible. I tried explaining this to my employer but he refuses to see my point of view. Originally on my Visa application they wrote that I would be earning $1,500 per month and I actually earned around $1,400 for the 2.5 months I was there between Sept-Nov. So...here are my questions:

* Does my employer have any legal obligations towards me? (Do they have to make sure I'm earning a certain amount) and what are my rights? (Do I have any?!)

* What will happen if I'm fired? Or if I quit? Will if affect future Visa applications?

* Can I change my Visa status (someone was telling me about an O1 Visa?)?

* My employer also wants me to be based in LA but I want to be based someone else and she refuses to change my fixed address as she says that will bring up a red flag with Homeland Security, is that right?

Any and all information would be grately appreciated!!

[Boiler 45,322]

You probably have no rights, the obligations would be as per the Contract you signed.

Probably will not impact any future visa applications. No job means your visa would be defunct.

O1, well you can look up the standard requirements, the amount you earn does not make that very likely.

No, you can live where you want, your visa is tied to your work, not where you live.

[Darnell 8,478]

6 gigs at 75 per gig? Not worth the effort, IMO.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Are the flights being paid for too? Sounds like it'll cost you more to do these gigs than not.

[visagirl1976 0]

You probably have no rights, the obligations would be as per the Contract you signed.

Probably will not impact any future visa applications. No job means your visa would be defunct.

O1, well you can look up the standard requirements, the amount you earn does not make that very likely.

No, you can live where you want, your visa is tied to your work, not where you live.

Hi Boiler, thanks a lot for your thoughts much appreciated!

[visagirl1976 0]

6 gigs at 75 per gig? Not worth the effort, IMO.

Hi Darnell! Thank you for your thoughts...no you're right, financially it isn't great - it's just weighing up the pros and cons and deciding if this is something that is worth it from a contacts point of view, as having the change to tour with a US based band has really raised my profile and really it's more about the opportunity than the money - although the last tour was a real struggle in terms of paying bills etc.

[visagirl1976 0]

Are the flights being paid for too? Sounds like it'll cost you more to do these gigs than not.

Hi lost_at_sea! Thank you for your thoughts - I paid for my own flight for the tour I just completed (it was £667) but they are offering to pay my flight to the US for the next part of the tour (but they are only offering to pay one way as they want me to be there between Jan-Sept when my Visa will be up).

....any other thoughts on this would be extremely appreciated!

[visagirl1976 0]

You probably have no rights, the obligations would be as per the Contract you signed.

Probably will not impact any future visa applications. No job means your visa would be defunct.

O1, well you can look up the standard requirements, the amount you earn does not make that very likely.

No, you can live where you want, your visa is tied to your work, not where you live.

...you say I can live where I want but how does that work if my employer is refusing to let me live elsewhere? He wants me to be based in one place and refuses to pay for flights if I move somewhere else....can he do that?

Edited December 29, 2013 by visagirl1976

[kzielu 1,148]

Of course. Don't you ridiculousness in such request ? If I want to live on Hawaii, should my employer pay for the flights ? How about Bora Bora ?

[visagirl1976 0]

Of course. Don't you ridiculousness in such request ? If I want to live on Hawaii, should my employer pay for the flights ? How about Bora Bora ?

Hi there!...thanks you for your thoughts I've just read what I wrote above and I didn't include some other information....I have also offered to pay for my flights to and from the place where I would like to be based and my employer has refused - so my main question is are they able to dictate to me where I can and can not live, bearing in mind that they don't have much work for me at all.

Edited December 29, 2013 by visagirl1976

[Boiler 45,322]

...you say I can live where I want but how does that work if my employer is refusing to let me live elsewhere? He wants me to be based in one place and refuses to pay for flights if I move somewhere else....can he do that?

I do not see why not.

Unless your contract says otherwise.

[kzielu 1,148]

Immigration-wise they can't tell you where to live. Contact wise - check what it says...

[visagirl1976 0]

I do not see why not.

Unless your contract says otherwise.

Well, my contract mostly talks about gigs....its doesn't mention anything other than I will be paid $75 per gig and that they have the right to sack me and give me a few days notice but I have to give them 1 months notice....they don't mention flights! Other than before I went over there they said they would cover *all* internal flights....I can totally understand why they would not wish me to move to another city, but I have actually offered to pay for my flights and they still say no....which in my opinion is unreasonable, but it's great to get some other points of view that don't have a personal attachment to the situation!

Immigration-wise they can't tell you where to live. Contact wise - check what it says...

Great - Dziękuję bardzo

[Boiler 45,322]

In do not get it, 4 months, $450 less deductions, you want to live somewhere else as well and are willing to pay the airfares.

Also not sure why they care where you stay, they are only going to see you every 3 weeks.

[visagirl1976 0]

In do not get it, 4 months, $450 less deductions, you want to live somewhere else as well and are willing to pay the airfares.

Also not sure why they care where you stay, they are only going to see you every 3 weeks.

...my employer is *very* controller and also doesn't like the person I'm having a relationship with - which really and truly is non of his business, but when I have no idea what my rights are and what is and isn't ok it's difficult to know what I can and can not do!