Temporary working in the US

[Sheena]

So, it is looking increasingly likely that I will need to be in the US for a couple of months this summer. I will be working there, but still paying myself through my own company and everything else will be UK based, but the time zone coverage and proximity to the Club World Cup make it really advantageous for me to be there for an extended period..

Question is whether I need a working visa to do so? I realise I can go as a tourist, but would rather be above board at the moment, considering everything that is going on.

I don't want to make official enquiries at this stage in case it's stored against me and I can't work out the online advice...

Anyone done anything similar?

 

[Penelope]

I'd delete/relabel all of your online presences with your name on if you've said anything political publicly against Trump, for a start.

 

[Sheena]

I'd delete/relabel all of your online presences with your name on if you've said anything political publicly against Trump, for a start.

Yeah, that's a different matter- which I also realise...

 

[dmlaw]

You’re going to need a working visa. Have you seen the recent news stories about a traveller who was held in immigration detention for weeks because she was staying with a host family, was doing chores to pay for her room and board, and only had a tourist visa?

 

[big ron]

Its been a while now but I had to complete some sort of form to be able to invoice US companies as a consultant a while back, even though I have a Ltd that I use as a PSC.

I haven't looked into it but its is (or at least was) a lot easier to get a visa as a journalist, which if you're covering the World Cup might be an easy route, worth looking at perhaps?

 

[Sheena]

You’re going to need a working visa. Have you seen the recent news stories about a traveller who was held in immigration detention for weeks because she was staying with a host family, was doing chores to pay for her room and board, and only had a tourist visa?

WELL THAT SOUNDS FUN!

 

[Sheena]

Its been a while now but I had to complete some sort of form to be able to invoice US companies as a consultant a while back, even though I have a Ltd that I use as a PSC.

I haven't looked into it but its is (or at least was) a lot easier to get a visa as a journalist, which if you're covering the World Cup might be an easy route, worth looking at perhaps?

You're probably talking about the W-8-BEN form, but that's not applicable here- I have US clients, but won't be invoicing them as part of any of this.

Yeah, the journalist thought had crossed my mind, but wasn't sure if I'd get away with it.

I think I'm just going to have to suck it up and make official enquiries. Although part of me is tempted to just sod it and go to Canada or Mexico instead for the time zone coverage.

 

[big ron]

I mean personally, I'd be avoiding the fuck out of the US at the minute if they're throwing people in gitmo type camps for simply having a slightly wrong visa. My brother goes everywhere with England and I'm tempted to travel over next year but would deffos go one of the other countries. Mexico is way more fun anyway!

 

[Sheena]

I mean personally, I'd be avoiding the fuck out of the US at the minute if they're throwing people in gitmo type camps for simply having a slightly wrong visa. My brother goes everywhere with England and I'm tempted to travel over next year but would deffos go one of the other countries. Mexico is way more fun anyway!

Oh believe me, I would rather be somewhere else, but there is an obvious advantage to being right next to where the action is (and also said client I'm working for has a very local presence). It's also going to be a fuckload cheaper in Mexico.

 

[BoysForSeles]

I remember travelling to the US to play a couple of tennis events a few years back and barely made it through US immigration leaving from here as I needed to prove I wasn’t earning money at them (they were medalled competitions) so yeah get the working Visa. The one I got for India was very straightforward.

 

[Christian]

I wouldn't advise messing with the US immigration system. Tell them what you want to do, and take it from there.

 

[funky]

Also when you plan your itinerary, don’t plan anything the day you arrive. It probably depends on the airport but people are queuing for hours and hours just to get in. Trump wants random checks of phones and tablets as well as the usual Trump anti immigration processes, but of course there’s no extra resources, and the US border control generally doesn’t give a fuck about keeping tourists waiting at an airport - you’re lucky to be here, etc….

 

[Kratz]

If you see a burly border guard, of course do try to get a strip search.