Independent Architects: are you Self employed or NA?
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Just filling a US Tourist visa form to see if I can use my LANPASS Kilometers to visit NY Architecture this fall.
Item 20 asks "Name and address of present employer or school",
Item 21 asks "Present Occupation"Obviously, I'll fill "Architect" in item 21, but I can't decide if I should put "Self employed" or just "NA" in item 20. The Consulate's call center wasn't helpful, just giving the vague answer that I should fill it "according to my criteria".
Amazingly, I called the US Consulate a couple hours ago and they gave me an interview for this Thursday. This normally takes a month. Have they become more efficient?
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You should indicate that you are 'Employed' in your native country. Do not say self-employed or NA.
A photographer friend of mine was recently refused entry because he said self-employed (they consider this un-employed) and U.S. Immigration denied him because he could work illegally.
This has also happened to other freelance people I know.
It also does not matter if you have a visa - the immigration officer can turn you back at point of entry.
It's not efficiency - it is paranoia.
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That paranoia seems to be getting worse. I’m heading for the AIA show in SF in 2 weeks and even if you are from a visa waiver country like the UK, you now have to inform the DHS online at least 3 days in advance of your visit, or they won’t let you in.
I guess the days of hopping onto the first available flight in an emergency are gone forever. -
Nice memories from last year...
Couldn't you fill in "Registered Private Enterprise Miguel Lescano"? All they want to know if there is a reason for you to go home after you're done with your business in the US.
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I wonder if I could use the name of my website... "Arqui3D". I've printed that name in my quotations for years. Of course, my invoices do not contain that, only my name. I've read somewhere that when consular officers check your application, they also look on the web for the company you work for.
Oh, never mind. If they don't feel like accepting me... it's their lose. Buenos Aires seems like a good place to visit in September, when Spring begins in the Southern Hemisphere
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@gaieus said:
Nice memories from last year...
Couldn't you fill in "Registered Private Enterprise Miguel Lescano"? All they want to know if there is a reason for you to go home after you're done with your business in the US.
What they want to be sure of is that you will not work illegally in any capacity while you are in the U.S. (read as steal a job from someone.)
A freelance/self employed status freaks them out.
All you need to do is show that you are employed and don't volunteer any info other than answering specific questions. Travel to the U.S these days is a nightmare. -
I was there (BaseCamp) last year. I made sure to get an official invite letter from Google however and of course there was no problem but sigh... You cannot get it every day of course.
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Thank you for all the insight!
I'll explain why I decided to apply:
On 2007 I bought a 480p Home Theater projector online, had it sent to NY and my parents brought it to Ecuador after their 3-week vacation there. (Yes, they have US tourist visas, and I don't. I'm jealous.)
On early 2008, the HD Format war ended and Blu-ray won, so I decided it was time to upgrade to an HD projector. Neither my parents nor my aunt in NY were supposed to travel on 2008, so I applied for a visa interview on June to go bring the new projector myself. Before the interview day, my aunt called and told me she was coming to Ecuador. This meant she could bring me my new projector, so I forgot about the visa interview. My new PJ is a Mitsu HC1500. (Still shows in my "purchases" section in my Amazon profile...http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A3UK21NY0SBOZ7 )
A couple days ago, I remembered that I had already payed for that visa interview (US$ 131), so I found the ticket. It hasn't expired yet. I also remembered that I have enough LANpass Kilometers for a trip to NY, so I said to myself: Why not?
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For that Line 20 I'd Suggest "Arqui3D" followed by your home address. If you work from some other place than your home use it instead. This is not lying. You are the owner/operator of Arqui3D.
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Again, thank you, everyone.
I've just returned from the US Consulate. I was refused a tourist visa.
Now planning a trip to Buenos Aires.
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Thats lame, sorry to hear it. Though I'm sure you'll have a great time in Buenos Aires too!
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Great to see our government is keeping the tourists out. It's not like we really need their money... wait a minute, we DO need their money!
Sorry, I hope you can come some other time.
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Not all tourists. Jobless Belgians like myself get in without hassle.
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@ecuadorian said:
Oh, never mind. If they don't feel like accepting me... it's their lose. Buenos Aires seems like a good place to visit in September, when Spring begins in the Southern Hemisphere
For me that sounds actually like a better plan
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well, at least you had the timing right..
september is the best month to be in nyc
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