The O-1 visa is a work visa with a maximum validity period of 3 years. You cannot volunteer your time or work as you need to demonstrate to the government that you will be employed.
You can either file for an employer-based petition or an agent-based petition. Filing with an employer-petitioner can be restrictive as you can only be employed by your employer r and can only have one job during the validity period of your O-1 visa, unless you file an amended petition.
SMA is the Stage Managers’ Association. It is an organization based in the USA. However, its International Cohort is growing as well since it began in early 2019. A “UN of Stage Manager” with currently over 25 ambassadors from 15 countries on 6 continents. On July 5, 2021, SMA Director-at-Large David J. McGraw and Editor in Chief/International Cohort Chair Hope Rose Kelly from the USA met for an online discussion with SMA International Cohort Ambassador Anna Robb in Hong Kong. Together, they compared the work conditions of Stage Managers working in both regions and around the world. Drawing on their own experiences as stage manager as well as looking at a 2019 survey, their findings are profound and of imminent importance. We are sharing the highlights of their discussion in an article series of 4 parts. This is part 1.
