Open Thread: Work Visas for the Traveling Freelancer?

The allure of freedom and adventure is often an element that attracts folks to the world of freelancing. For some people, myself included, the flexibility to work in different spots around the neighborhood is a great draw. For the more adventurous, an extended version of the “working vacation” (mentioned in our previous article about Alternative Work Spaces) might be more suitable. I’ve asked myself lately, why not experience a new land for a new challenge and change of pace? How might this process work?

The timing might be good – the slide into recession for certain countries is making people think about moving abroad in an attempt to escape. Also, you can emigrate to countries perceived as offering a better quality of life and lower cost of living.

After scouring the web for more advice on working visas, I found quite a few services that assist independent workers in navigating the complexities of immigration and visa law. Global Visas is one firm, and they offer services for both private individuals and corporate organizations to acquire Canadian visa, UK or US visas. From their site, it looks like they’ve had some good press mentions, and they offer some free guidance on their site about qualifying for various country visas.

Feel free to comment below on your experiences with these companies, or offer any advice you may have for taking the leap into a foreign land.

Why Guest Blogging is a Powerful Way to Gain Exposure for Your Blog

Every blogger has been there: you’ve been blogging for a few weeks, but not many people other than your close friends and relatives every stop by.

You ask your readers a question, and the response is a resounding silence. You need to find ways to gain exposure for your young blog.

And guest blogging is one of the most powerful ways of doing that.

When I first started Zen Habits, I faced this challenge, just like everyone else does. “I’m writing great stuff,” I would say to myself, “but no one is reading it. What do I do?”

I tried guest blogging, and it paid off big time. I now regrettably have to turn down requests to write guest posts elsewhere, just because I’m so busy writing. I wish I didn’t have to, because every time I do, I miss an opportunity, but there’s no question that guest blogging has been a major part of my success.

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