Canadian wrestler in knots over US visa law
September 08 2009 by Rebekah Nahai
Wrestler knocked out by US visa
A professional female wrestler has had her contract with a popular wrestling show terminated after producers realised she was working in the US illegally.
Canadian Lauren Williams, known in wrestling as Angelina Love, has been working without a US visa for two years since her contract with World Wrestling Entertainment ended.
She had been recognised as a burgeoning talent by the organisation, which sponsored her for a US visa. But in the US, employer-sponsored visas enable employees to work legally only as long as they remain with the sponsoring company.
When the contract ended, so did Williams’ visa rights.
Williams was hired by wrestling entertainment producers Total Nonstop Action (TNA) in 2007 after her first contract ended. Neither Williams nor her new employer applied for a new US visa and she has been working without once since.
TNA president Dixie Carter was recently alerted to the problem and potential legal ramifications of employing illegal workers. Williams’ contract has been promptly terminated.
If investigations ensue, she could be banned from entering the US for ten years and forced to pay back any salary she earned while working without a visa.
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