Author Nick Hornby ("High Fidelity" denied entry to US
#16
Join Date: May 2004
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If Hornby was importing books to sign and sell, then he would be engaging in business requiring a visa. Instead he was signing books that were legally printed or imported by some other entity, and legally sold by entities in the USA. Signing books surely encouraged more sales, but the benefits went to the book seller and the US publisher.
As a published author myself, I can assure you that there is no way the royalties he would have earned on sales of the signed hard bound books would have come any near to covering his travel expenses. I earn five percent of each retail transaction on my book. The hardcover edition of High Fideity retails for about $40. Assuming $3000 for air fare, $1000 for hotel and other expenses, that is 1000 books to sign just to break even. To close a real estate with fewer than 25 documents to sign takes me two hours at a title company. Do the math.
Note to self: next time I am in foreign country and am approached to sign a book, decline because I am breaking some silly immigration law.
Or give my reader two dollars to offset my royalty.
Good lord the stupidty of DHS never ceases to amaze one.
As a published author myself, I can assure you that there is no way the royalties he would have earned on sales of the signed hard bound books would have come any near to covering his travel expenses. I earn five percent of each retail transaction on my book. The hardcover edition of High Fideity retails for about $40. Assuming $3000 for air fare, $1000 for hotel and other expenses, that is 1000 books to sign just to break even. To close a real estate with fewer than 25 documents to sign takes me two hours at a title company. Do the math.
Note to self: next time I am in foreign country and am approached to sign a book, decline because I am breaking some silly immigration law.
Or give my reader two dollars to offset my royalty.
Good lord the stupidty of DHS never ceases to amaze one.
While Mr. Hornby's activities would undoubtedly result in increased sales of his book, those transactions are not conducted with Mr. Hornby but with the bookstore that is actually selling his books. He is not being directly remunerated for his activities.
When Bono gives a speech promoting poverty alleviation, it raises his public stature and undoubtedly boosts his record sales. Would that be considered work?
When a politician speaks abroad, is that considered work? What about if they have also published a book?
#17
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He must be working illegally in all those countries, I suppose.
#18
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I agree, not because I consider that immigration laws are necessarily silly, but because unpaid promotional acitivities are simply not commercial activity, even if the end result may through complex channels generate income for the individual. Where do you draw the line?
While Mr. Hornby's activities would undoubtedly result in increased sales of his book, those transactions are not conducted with Mr. Hornby but with the bookstore that is actually selling his books. He is not being directly remunerated for his activities.
When Bono gives a speech promoting poverty alleviation, it raises his public stature and undoubtedly boosts his record sales. Would that be considered work?
When a politician speaks abroad, is that considered work? What about if they have also published a book?
While Mr. Hornby's activities would undoubtedly result in increased sales of his book, those transactions are not conducted with Mr. Hornby but with the bookstore that is actually selling his books. He is not being directly remunerated for his activities.
When Bono gives a speech promoting poverty alleviation, it raises his public stature and undoubtedly boosts his record sales. Would that be considered work?
When a politician speaks abroad, is that considered work? What about if they have also published a book?
#19
Join Date: May 2004
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People pay a lot for foreign politicians to speak in the US. A buddy of mine used to handle the likes of Nelson Mandela's contracts for speeches in the OECD world; and it wasn't cheap. FWdC, his counterpart who released him, was more available and cost less, but it was big bucks too. They got paid big bucks to speak and frequently had their travel costs often covered on top of that.
#20
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I have a friend who runs a tour company. Typically a group of seniors pay him to arrange trips, busses, airplanes, and hotels in places such as China, Russia, Ireland, and now Cuba. He travels with them and guides them every step of the way. He is, for all intents and purposes, "on the clock".
He must be working illegally in all those countries, I suppose.
He must be working illegally in all those countries, I suppose.
And why is abiding by the law so bad? Yes, it can be complex and reduces your income in most cases, but that's part and parcel of doing business internationally.
#21
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My understanding is that an "O" visa would apply in this case - Visa for Persons of Extraordinary Ability (which has a very loose interpretation). This normally covers people coming for paid speaking engagements, among many other things, so I think it would apply in this case.
#22
Join Date: Mar 2010
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No. He's not likely to be paid in the US directly. His agent would be paid. He is merely acting for his employer (himself and/or agent and/or publishers), which may (or may not) have a consequent effect upon sales. A B1 visa would be easy to get and appropriate. Heck, a VWP for business would probably be broadly qualify as appropriate so long as he can guarantee that no one pays him for anything while in the US.