US Visa Fees For Foreign Artists & Touring Performers Set For Over 120 Per Cent Increase
The US visa petition fees are set to increase by more than 100% this year, impacting international musicians aspiring to work in the country. Effective April 1, the petition-based O and P visas will surpass $1000 (£797) for the first time. O visas are meant for those with “extraordinary” talent in business, entertainment, sports, and the arts, allowing applicants to work in the US for up to three years. The cost of an O visa has increased by 129%, rising from $460 (£366) to $1,055 (£841). P visas, which allow artists to work in the United States for a shorter period, will increase by 121%, from $460 (£366) to $1,015 (£809). While the increased fees are substantial, it is worth noting that they were initially planned to be even higher, with a proposal to raise prices by a further $600 (£478), resulting in a 250% increase.
USCIS faced criticism from the National Independent Venue Association, which outlined how the inflated fees would pose “a severe economic and cultural threat to independent live entertainment” across the country. Besides, the #LetTheMusicMove campaign contested the changes, calling them “crippling” for artists. They explained that “amid the ongoing cost of living crisis and with the live sector still recovering from the impacts of COVID-19, it would make performing in the world’s biggest music market unaffordable for many emerging and mid-level artists.”
The upcoming change in April will mark the first increase in visa fees since 2016. It has been implemented to “recover its operating costs more fully and support timely processing of new applications,” according to USCIS. Other changes that will take effect on April 1 include a new asylum program fee of $600 (£478) for sponsoring employers filing the I-129 form required for O and P visas. Nonprofits and smaller employers with 25 or fewer full-time employees will pay half the I-129 fee.
Furthermore, processing fees for quicker application responses will increase from $2,500 (£1,993) to $2,805 (£2,236) on February 26. This is happening as the premium processing window expands from 15 days to 15 business days. Despite the USCIS’s justification for the fee increases, they have received criticism from the National Independent Venue Association, the #LetTheMusicMove campaign, and multiple artists who have pointed out the negative impact these fees will have on their careers. It is imperative to address these concerns and work towards a solution that can benefit everyone.
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