3902  Visas and Work Permits

Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 17:35:46 EDT
From: Battanle@AOL.COM
Subject: Visas and Work Permits

Dear All,

I feel compelled to respond to some of the postings about working in the U.S.


A person can work on certain types of visas. Dancers normally work on P-1,
P-3 or O-1 visas. First a petition must be approved by USCIS (United States
Citizenship and Immigration Service which is part of the Department of
Homeland Security). After the petition is approved, the person applies for a visa
at a U.S. consulate in their home country. Having a petition approved by
USCIS is not a guarantee that a person will receive a visa. Visa eligibility
involves showing petition approval AND that the person is admissible to the
U.S. (hasn't committed a serious crime, is not a terrorist, will return to their
home country at the end of their stay, etc.) But, normally if the petition
is approved, the person will get their visa (for my clients it is 100%).

A person cannot work in the U.S. on a tourist (B-1/B-2) visa. Many times I
have seen on this list an organizer or promoter post something about how a
dancers was unable to attend a workshop or get their visa. But, I imagine this
means is that the dancer was unable to secure a tourist visa, or was not
admitted to the U.S. on their tourist visa because they were trying to work
illegally.

Work permits do allow someone to work in the U.S., but are not required to
work in the U.S. Work permits are not issued by the State Department, but by
USCIS after someone has applied for permanent resident status. Many visa
types give people permission to work in the U.S.

I am not even going close to who is a "milonguero." I don't have my flame
retardant suit with me at the office. But, P-3 visas are for those who teach
a culturally unique art form. Most "milongueros" meet this definition - they
just have to get paperwork together to show that to USCIS.

Sincerely,

Lisa


Lisa E. Battan
Lisa E. Battan, P.C.
2020 Pearl Street, Suite B
Boulder, CO 80302
303-444-8668
fax: 303-444-4847
toll free: 1-866-614-8668
_www.battan.us_ (https://www.battan.us/)
lisa@battan.us

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