Answering a Reader Question #986

Anonymous Wrote:

 Hi Dana, I hope you're okay
I have a problem, I live in Latin America and I want to start my modeling career in NY, I mean, I want to go to NYC and meet some agencies but my doubt is: does it is safe to go to the US as a tourist to visit agencies? and if I get signed will the agency be my sponsor for my working visa? 

Hi there, Anonymous!

I'm doing great, thanks for asking! :-)

Despite the political atmosphere going on in the United States at the moment, it is safe for you to travel as a tourist to meet with agencies in the NYC market. As long as you plan in advance for which agencies you'll go to and are able to maximize your time while you're here, you'll be able to hopefully get the results you want out of the trip: an agency to petition on your behalf to bring you over to work as a model.

Of course that is easier said than done. There are several important requirements that must be met and specific documents that need to be provided in order to work as a model in the US under the H1B Visa. Below is a link that explains this process in more detail:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/h1b-visa-fashion-models-how-get-work-model-usa-venkat-ramineni/

It's very intimidating reading over everything but if you go about visiting the NYC agencies properly by knowing exactly which ones you qualify for and that you realistically can attend open calls for (or interviews if you submit yourself online), then you could possibly have a shot at a modeling career in the States.

However, that being said, it's also a good idea to not put all your eggs in one basket. The modeling market where you live may or may not be ideal but it is worth submitting to agencies local to you and getting representation so that you can begin building your modeling experience there.

Signing with a local mother agency that can place you with other agencies internationally would be the most streamlined way to have a shot at modeling in NYC. It still involves paperwork and meeting requirements but your mother agent in your home country would be responsible for getting all that together and connecting with international agencies on your behalf.

Make sure to do your research on both arrangements (submitting to local agencies and submitting to US agencies) and that will give you a more solid game plan to follow. Best of luck to you!

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