ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXDoes anyone have any experience with I-Visas in the US?
2 years, 6 months ago - Liam Michaels
Keen to understand the Visa situation in the US
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2 years, 6 months ago - Owain Astles
Speaking here not from first-hand experience but having had many friends apply for the visa (some successful, some unsuccessful). Main things I'd say:
1. It's hard, and it's expensive. Expect at least a year of compiling documents, submitting and then waiting for a decision before you get any sort of certainty. Overall, including lawyer fees, legalising documents, submission fees, etc, it's likely to cost you upward of 4 grand.
2. You need a lawyer. It can technically be done without, but the difference an experienced immigration lawyer will make to your application, and your own stress levels, can't be underestimated. Look for recommendations for a good immigration lawyer experienced with I-Visas, and expect to pay MINIMUM 2 grand.
3. I-Visas aren't granted so much on the basis of how successful/talented/experienced you are, as much as they are on how you're known. Awards, nominations, etc are helpful, but even more useful are news articles from respected publishers, media appearances, having your name mentioned alongside highly recognised industry talent, etc. It sucks but that's what they generally look for.
4. It's by no means a sure thing and anything can happen, but a good lawyer will probably be able to give you an idea of how good your chances are of getting your visa approved. If it's unlikely, probably best to save the money and look at other options. If it's likely, and you can afford it, go for it!
Response from 2 years, 6 months ago - Owain Astles SHOW
2 years, 6 months ago - John Lubran
My experience of getting an I Visa differs hugely from the quagmire reported above. But I got mine for a feature documentary in 1999 without much bother at all and without needing to hire lawyers or agents of any kind. Perhaps there's been some changes.
The key thing for me was that I was also a director of a 'corporation', (Limited Company) with modest provenance producing broadcast programs for over a decade at that time. At the time I didn't even know what an I Visa was. I had visited the US a couple of times on business previously with a standard B1/B2 visa. We were simply applying for B1/B2 business visas for a four person film crew. We got our bank to verify with a letter of standing, confirming us as being stable and entrenched in the UK as a part of the application. Importantly I anticipated all and any concerns US immigration might have and delivered a thorough and comprehensively joined up and backed up application that covered all bases leaving all boxes ticked. It's where people don't tick all the boxes and are worldly naive which then leads to a lot of further questioning and answering that gets convoluted and beaurocracatically time absorbing. Lawyers and agents also know how to generate justification for their fees. It took less than a fortnight for our passports to be returned with the new Visas attached.
We didn't ask for I Visas but myself as Producer and our Director had the additional I Visas given by the US's own initiative.The other two crew just recieved ordinary business visas.
It was only at US customs that I experienced the impact of an I Visa, when the immigration officer saw the I Visa and then delightfully treated us like an honoured guests.
Response from 2 years, 6 months ago - John Lubran SHOW
2 years, 6 months ago - John Lubran
My experience of getting an I Visa differs hugely from the quagmire reported above. But I got mine for a feature documentary in 1999 without much bother at all and without needing to hire lawyers or agents of any kind. Perhaps there's been some changes.
The key thing for me was that I was also a director of a 'corporation', (Limited Company) with modest provenance producing broadcast programs for over a decade at that time. At the time I didn't even know what an I Visa was. I had visited the US a couple of times on business previously with a standard B1/B2 visa. We were simply applying for B1/B2 business visas for a four person film crew. We got our bank to verify with a letter of standing, confirming us as being stable and entrenched in the UK as a part of the application. Importantly I anticipated all and any concerns US immigration might have and delivered a thorough and comprehensively joined up and backed up application that covered all bases leaving all boxes ticked. It's where people don't tick all the boxes and are worldly naive which then leads to a lot of further questioning and answering that gets convoluted and beaurocracatically time absorbing. Lawyers and agents also know how to generate justification for their fees. It took less than a fortnight for our passports to be returned with the new Visas attached.
We didn't ask for I Visas but myself as Producer and our Director had the additional I Visas given by the US's own initiative.The other two crew just recieved ordinary business visas.
It was only at US customs that I experienced the impact of an I Visa, when the immigration officer saw the I Visa and then delightfully treated us like an honoured guests.
Response from 2 years, 6 months ago - John Lubran SHOW
2 years, 6 months ago - John Lubran
Oops pressed
Response from 2 years, 6 months ago - John Lubran SHOW