Canadian wants to work in USA - L.A., Austin, NYC
Ladies,
I've been dancing in Toronto for two years now, but the man I'm dating wants to move to the USA for work and I figure, what the hell? Why not live somewhere else for a few months? His picks are Los Angeles, Austin, or New York City.
Is there any such thing as a work visa for a dancer who is not a feature? Can anyone clue me in as to licensing and hiring requirements for these cities? In Toronto you have to have a dancing licence from the city, probably to keep out the underage girls and the foreigners (who want to do just what I do). I'm over 21, an experienced dancer. But I definitely do not have a US passport.
What are the chances of working under the table?
Re: Canadian wants to work in USA - L.A., Austin, NYC
Bad. I'm a Canadian. Places are getting pickier now, with laws cracking down. Illegal dancers are a liability.
Visa's are hard to get. Do you have any marketable skills? Like...can you speak 4 or 5 different languages? Are you a doctor? Are you very wealthy? If not - then forget getting a visa. There is an entertainers visa, but the chances of getting one of those without being a Las-Vegas showgirl caliber type of dancer are impossible.
Social Insurance Numbers down here are big, if you don't have one, you're basically fucked. There's no way to get a social unless you're a primary Visa holder (if your bf manages to bring you here as his 'partner' in a brain-drain type of senario, you still won't be able to get a SSN right away, as you'll be a dependent). Jobs 'under the table' - other than dancing - are difficult to find if you're in Austin to LA, unless you speak Spanish; no idea about New York. These are actual observations from a transplanted Canadian, I'm not trying to sound cruel, just trying to be realistic.
If you would like - you can 'visit' the US for 179 days at a time, and then you'll have to cross the boarder again. That's how Canadian Snow-birds manage to migrate to Florida for half the year. You then have to stay in Canada for 24 hours, and you can try crossing the boarder for another 179 days. Chances are, you do this twice, and you'll get caught and your account will be red flagged. Happened to me before.
If you're bf is serious about moving to the US, and you're serious about going with him, go see an immigration lawyer. If you go visit immigration forums online, a lot of people say you can do it yourself - but it's very tricky, and most don't have the time and effort to put into it. I got behind in my filing, and now I have to leave the US in the next 2 months, and am banned for entering for 3 years.....Coincidentally, I'm planning on moving to Toronto.
Re: Canadian wants to work in USA - L.A., Austin, NYC
My worst suspicions confirmed. Rats. health care aside, i do love America!
I just registered with StripperWeb today and spent a while reading the Worst Cities thread -- have to say, Toronto has its share of dives but on the whole there's really nothing to complain about here. Save the weather. i'll probably go there for a while -- i'd have to come back every so often because i think i want to keep my ontario health care.
may i ask where you were in the US? did you have proper visa stuff while you were there?
Re: Canadian wants to work in USA - L.A., Austin, NYC
I'm in Florida now, and stayed mainly in Florida, but have traveled around a lot looking for work.
When I moved, I did it totally legally - my parents brought me here with them (I was a minor at the time). We still got heckled a lot at the boarder. Also, I had a hard time opening a bank account, took MONTHS to get my license because of all the paperwork the DMV required, college is 4x more expensive than up north, doctors offices wouldn't take me if I didn't provide them a social (which is illegal, but they'll do it anyway). I mean - it's really hard now-a-days. Before 9/11 I hear it was a lot more lax, but they've tightened up since. Just be prepared to be very patient, that's all.
Also, I have Great Aunts and Uncles who have lived here for 30 years, and they still have OHIP, so I'm not sure you have to worry about that?
Re: Canadian wants to work in USA - L.A., Austin, NYC
Hello Canada 8)
Austin here ;) Well to answer your question about getting paid "under the table".... You might be able to find a place that will work with you, but not at any of the corporate clubs like Ricks, because those do require your finger print when you sign in....and a drop of blood...J/J
Try Perfect10. I cock-tailed with two Russian girls there back in 03 (when it was Penthouse) and they both got paid under the table. One of them still works there too.
Also try any of the greek owned clubs like Palazio or Exposse, they're usually liberal on those types of things.
But you know, if your HOTT enough, I'm sure anyplace will work with you ;)
Good Luck :) Hope the choice is Austin Texas ;D
Re: Canadian wants to work in USA - L.A., Austin, NYC
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TheShoesStayOn
Ladies,
I've been dancing in Toronto for two years now, but the man I'm dating wants to move to the USA for work and I figure, what the hell? Why not live somewhere else for a few months? His picks are Los Angeles, Austin, or New York City.
Is there any such thing as a work visa for a dancer who is not a feature? Can anyone clue me in as to licensing and hiring requirements for these cities? In Toronto you have to have a dancing licence from the city, probably to keep out the underage girls and the foreigners (who want to do just what I do). I'm over 21, an experienced dancer. But I definitely do not have a US passport.
What are the chances of working under the table?
I just talked about this awhile ago. Its not going to happen. There is no way you will get a visa to work as a dancer and if you get caught dancing without a work visa you will be deported and have EVERYTHING taken away from you(money, clothes, everything) and denied re-entry to the country for 10 years.
Never mind dancing in the US isn't worth it right now. Do some reading everyone is bitching money is crap. Especially the big cities.
Re: Canadian wants to work in USA - L.A., Austin, NYC
What about getting a job with a private party agency? They might be able to swing a Performer/Entertainer visa. Has anyone got any experience?
Re: Canadian wants to work in USA - L.A., Austin, NYC
In regard to obtaining a US work visa for Performing, at a minimum this requires that the girl have 'qualifications' ( i.e. a resume' of feature dancing gigs, magazine / video appearances etc.). Beyond that, this requires that a US agent 'book' a US tour with finite booking dates and locations ( thus a finite date when the foreign Performer will be leaving the USA ). This is a far different situation than a foreign dancer without such 'qualifications', without a US agent, and without pre-arranged bookings at specific US clubs attempting to simply enter the USA and attempt to look for work after the fact.
Even so, and despite the US Patriot Act requirement that all 'employers' verify the status of new workers ( i.e. proof of US citizenship / green card / US work visa ), there will always be some clubs that will be willing to overlook such an inconvenient law and hire a hot dancer regardless of her status. However, such clubs also tend to overlook other inconvenient laws like prostutution, drugs etc. as well.
Re: Canadian wants to work in USA - L.A., Austin, NYC
^This is exactly what I've found
As a woman willing to get (mostly) naked, you will find work anywhere...it just won't be in great places.
Re: Canadian wants to work in USA - L.A., Austin, NYC
Why don't you ask around your club and find out. I know a lot of girls from Toronto and Montreal who dance in NY, Vegas and Miami because they have hookups at the clubs. Sometimes you just need to know the right person to get in. Keep in mind it is risky though.
Re: Canadian wants to work in USA - L.A., Austin, NYC
Re: Canadian wants to work in USA - L.A., Austin, NYC
I'm bumping this thread because this issue is of (renewed) interest to me as well at the moment, it being dead in my homeclub and about to get deader in Feb and March. I've known about the legalities for years following a similar question I asked ages ago, but I've since met a lot of girls who get away with it somehow (not on a regular basis at all, but they will take "working vacations" to US cities like NYC, New Orleans, Miami, etc. for a few weeks occasionally). I'm wondering if anyone has experiences to share or first-person anecdotes they have been told from trustworthy sources. The other reason I was thinking about this is because we have this American customer\club owner who frequents my bar every month or two and I've chatted with him a few times over the years and he has mentioned that if I wanted to come and work at the club he owned in Detroit, I would be welcome to. Obviously this could be bullshit, or a scheme of some sort, which is I am sure what lexXe was referring to as "risky" with regards to "knowing someone". Still curious though. If the canadian dollar keeps tanking the way it is working literally ANYWHERE for whatever USD you can find might turn into a trend...and what used to be dancers just dancing to pay for a vacation and make some change turns into a very financially appealing (if illegal) option.
Re: Canadian wants to work in USA - L.A., Austin, NYC
There are clubs that will take you. They are just hard to come by.