legalities? a self employment question

Is it fair that people like JKRowling can earn money from sales of her work in the States? Why is THAT legal? How did she get permission to work in the States?
Oh...she probably Bought her way in.

Do you really not get this?  It's because she is a UK citizen and is physically working in the UK.  I certainly don't understand how the publishing business works in regards to taxes and visas, but I doubt very very much that she works in the US without the appropriate visa.

You are a US citizen and are physically in the UK, not the US.  You are here on a visitors visas which prohibits working while you're visiting.  Besides, if you're working then you're not really visiting are you?  You're living here.

It's fairly simple.  

JK Rowling did not 'buy' her way in.  Her home publishing company will have sold her books via foreign rights to an overseas publisher (or overseas arm of her home publishing company).  This is a case of two companies doing business together, rather than a person representing and conducting business herself.

I'm not personally acquainted with her living arrangements, but it would appear that she resides in the UK.  So it's perfectly legal for her to sell products to the US as she is in her native country when doing so.  However, if she were in the US on a visitor visa, she couldn't just set up shop and sell only to the UK to avoid breaking US immigration rules.

If you were an established author you could make money here - there is a special visa for establsihed artists, writers etc like I said before. I really think you should do some of the legwork and have a look at the IND site before asking any more questions about this.

I really don't find that fair. You have to be rich before you can legally  make money

Being rich isn't necessary, but being an adult, acing like one, and most importantly thinking like one usually is part of the recipe...

but are you married to a UK citizen Ashley?  Or are you employed by an American company?

I am neither, and trying to figure out how I can support myself...without having family from home  send cash every two months.

ash is a spouse like a lot of us.

Supporting yourself is hard on a visitors visa.  You either come over and spend your hard earned US cash, or you apply for the appropriate marital visas. Can't look for work while you're here on a visitors visa either.  That's illegal.

but are you married to a UK citizen Ashley? Or are you employed by an American company?

I am neither, and trying to figure out how I can support myself...without having family from home send cash every two months.

You can't.  You  came here as a visitor.  Which means you agreed not to work and should have sufficient funds to support yourself.  That's the way it works I'm afraid.  If you can't support yourself you need to go home where you are legally entitled to work.  We've all jumped through the right hoops to be here, you're not going to get a lot of sympathy for trying to get around them.  

There are ways to support yourself if you're neither a British citizen nor married to one -- get a student visa, get a work permit, qualify for the HSMP, etc.  The door isn't closed to anyone -- you just have to qualify.

If you can't afford to live here as a visitor, go home and earn money to finance your next trip -- lots of people do that.

To those of you who have been sincere and helpful, thank you for trying to explain.

To everyone else:
I have to say I find the insults directed at my legitimate questions really disturbing.
I really do not understand the whys and hows of this whole set up and am trying to get it sorted...instead I'm getting insults flung in my face by the very people I was instructed to ask for help and advice.
Not very helpful and not at all polite.

Again, to clarify, I have no intention of  working here on this trip. I am talking about a future visit. I want to know what I need to do to come in legally in the future  and be able to earn money to help support myself while building a relationship.
I have sufficient funds to support  myself for  the duration of this visit.

Please try to go back and see what I am  asking instead of throwing rude comments about.

Answering your question with things you don't want to hear is not being insulting.  It's being honest.  Have a look at the Home Office website for visa options.  What you're proposing would unfortunately be illegal. 

I also don't think it's probably advisable to make permanent plans based on knowing someone a week.  Again, not insulting you, just being honest.

I think your questions have been answered on this thread and other threads several times over now.  If you need more information than you are getting here, please contact IND.