질문
미겔
D-4
E-7 - Self-employment as part of experience years
Hi. A company gave a verbal offer for a creative production-related role. But they called out to me about visa application, and they said the visa agency they consulted with told them that it would be impossible to push my application forward because of my work experience duration (7 months company-employed + 1.5 years self-employed/freelance). I know that immigration would be difficult to deal with, but I still want to hope for the best because I was "legally" freelancing -- I was self-employed with a business registration, and therefore it was still work experience. May I ask if anyone with a past similar experience, and if there were any documents you had to prepare apart from the business certificate and the income tax returns?
답변 1
jin87
D-4
E-7
In theory, self employment or freelance work can count as work experience for an E7 visa as long as it was legally registered and taxed Since you had a business registration and filed income taxes, that definitely helps your case That said, immigration can be strict when it comes to recognizing freelance work, especially if it's not backed by clear documentation Aside from your business registration and tax documents, I’d also recommend preparing: - Contracts or invoices with clients (showing dates, scope of work, and payment) - Proof of actual income received (like bank statements matching the invoices) - A detailed portfolio or work samples - If possible, letters from clients confirming your work during that period Ultimately, the visa officer will want to see proof that your freelance work was continuous, professional, and related to the job you are applying for. So the more documentation you can provide, the better It’s not guaranteed, but I’ve heard of cases where self employment was accepted especially when well documented So don’t give up just yet. Wishing you the best of luck and hope it works out for you