This is an interview who may be interesting for international tattoo artists looking to work and live long term in the United States. In the last couple of years I got in touch with Sunit via email and this year I’ve finally met him in person at the Gdanks Tattoo Convention. This was a very good opportunity to learn more about Sunit and the services that he provides for tattoo artists.
Sunit, how would you introduce yourself to new readers?
Hi! I am a tattoo artist visa lawyer. My firm helps tattoo artists and other creatives work and live in the U.S.A. Our company, Sky USA Law is an immigration law firm with offices in Los Angeles and New York City. We have been working with people in arts and entertainment fields since 2010, and help foreign artists work in the U.S. We have a very high success rate, and evaluate each visa case with the artist carefully before any commitment. They will know their chances before they start the process.
What can you tell us about SkyUSALaw?
Sky USA Law is a law firm which specialize in artist visas, also called the O1 visa.. We do all the work, and make it simple. Our team will prepare all your letters, make sure the details in your file show your achievements. We regularly have video calls with our clients to collect information, and also help with obtaining any materials necessary for a strong application.
Most of all, we guide you through the entire process, including helping you with the interview process after you get the visa, so you can focus on your work. We can be reached via email (artistvisa@skyusalaw.com) or Instagram @skyusalaw.
You are in charge of the Artists Visa for the USA. Can you explain to us what
exactly it is?
Artist Visa is a U.S. work visa for people in arts and entertainment field. It allows you to work legally in the United States. It is achieved through showing your achievements to the government- which is what we help with. It allows artists to legally work for up to 3 years, and can be extended every 3 years.
It is a great visa, you may travel as much as you like in and out of the U.S. or stay the whole 3 years. It’s important to note that your family (husband/wife and children) can join you in the U.S. on an O-3 visa. Your children can study in the U.S.
Your service focuses essentially on artists and creative people. Why is your service interesting also for tattoo artists?
For tattoo artists it is a big financial opportunity. The U.S. is known for its high earning potential and the chance to gain exposure at major conventions or guest spots at different studios. You also have an opportunity to build your brand and collaborate with top artists and companies.
What’s the process to obtain such a visa?
Here are the necessary steps during a visa process.
- Building the case: We will assist with explaining the requirements and if the visa is an option
for you, then we help you by preparing all the necessary materials. - Supporting Documentation: We build your case and documentation for you, with regular
video/phone meetings with you to collect all the necessary information. - Submit Application to Labor Union and Government: We manage the full case, obtaining
the labor union approval and submitting to the government. - Interview Preparation: Once the case is approved,we also assist with preparing you for the
visa interview to get a stamp in your passport to enter the U.S. and work.
How long does it usually take to process such a VISA application?
The total time a person should expect is 6 months- however, this can be shorter as well.
About 2 months to build the case. Circa 4 months for immigration office to process it. However, if you need a faster answer, the U.S. government provides a faster processing for a higher price, which guarantees a response time in 15 days after they receive the file.
In regular conditions, what are the odds of obtaining the working visa?
We evaluate your case before you sign with us, so that each person who works with us has a very good chance. We have over 99 percent approval rate for artist visas.
What’s your perception of the tattoo community as a whole?
Beautiful and friendly, very kind. Over the 15 years I have been working with artist visas, I have made many friends in the community and consider them to be very hard working and smart people.
How long have you been dealing specifically with tattoo artists?
Over 15 years now. Hard to believe how fast time flies! I have worked with artists from all over Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and other countries.
What’s for you the most challenging aspect of working with tattoo artists?
Tattoo artists are busy and sometimes it can be difficult for them to make this process go fast.
Luckily we fully understand it works with their schedule. Our firm has associates in Europe and America so we can work with any time zone. We make the questionnaires simple for them and usually collect all information in a few video calls.
What is the most challenging aspect for a tattoo artist to get a working visa for the
USA?
I think that the most challenging aspect for a tattoo artist is that the process and requirements are complicated, and this is difficult to understand. We know that most artists (like everybody else) don’t like to be dealing with paperwork, that’s why we use our experience to build the file for them.
I’ve noticed that there are quite a few organizations providing working visas for the USA. What differentiates you from your competition?
What sets us apart is that we are a law firm, not just an organization. Our founder is an immigration lawyer who keeps up with the rules. With 15 years of experience, our expertise is well-established, and we’re proud to have a very high approval rate for our cases. We also support our clients on every step of the process ensuring complete transparency, flat fee
service—everything is clear from the beginning to end.
What other services does SkyUSALaw provide?
We specialize in artist visas mainly. We also assist people with permanent residency (green card) if they wish. We can also assist with visa renewals and extensions, ensuring you have the guidance you need throughout the process.
I’ve noticed that you have been participating at a few tattoo conventions. What’s the most valuable aspect of conventions in your overall marketing strategy?
Participating in conventions is the best way of meeting artists. After all, It’s an event where most talented artists come and work in the same place. Additionally, conventions are a great spot to raise awareness about the O1 visa. Many artists are unaware that they can legally live and work in the US.
What’s your experience in general at tattoo conventions?
It’s been an absolute blast! We are very fortunate to be going around the world for conventions where we meet outstanding artists and are able to admire their work. It’s a truly unique experience to be surrounded by so much diverse talent in one place—something we don’t encounter in our day-to-day lives. In the next weeks we will be attending Nantes Tattoo Convention in France, Barcelona Tattoo Expo, Urban Land Tattoo Expo in Rome, Nordic Ink Festival and Brussels Tattoo Convention. Come say hi or ask us any questions you may have in regard to the O1 visa.
Is there anything else you would like to say to our readers?
We’d like to say do not be afraid to reach for better opportunities for yourself as an artist or a creative. We understand that any immigration process can be complicated, but we are here to support you on every step of the way. If you’d like to find out more about the possibilities of living and working in the US as an artist please send us an email to artistvisa@skyusalaw.com, fill out the inquiry form or send us a DM on Instagram to @skyusalaw to schedule a free of charge consultation.
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