Today brings important policy news for orchestras that engage artists from
across the globe to partner with U.S. musicians in concerts, education
programs, and the development of new artistic works. Legislation to make
the artist visa process more reliable and affordable was introduced in the U.S.
Senate today by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT). The Arts
Require Timely Service (ARTS) Act, S. 2510, would improve opportunities for
international cultural activity by ensuring that U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) processes artist visas on time.
Orchestras and other
nonprofit performing arts organizations must apply for an O or P Visa when
engaging international artists for performances. While USCIS pledged in 2010 to process these visas within the timeframe
required under current law, applications for artists undergo long delays and
extreme inconsistency by USCIS, often forcing nonprofit U.S. arts organizations
to pay for unaffordable expedited processing, or risk cancelling scheduled
performers. Under the ARTS Act, USCIS would be required to provide expedited
processing free-of-charge if a visa petition filed by, or on behalf of, a U.S.
nonprofit arts organization is not processed on time.
- See more at: http://slippedisc.com/2016/02/us-senate-hears-bill-to-improve-artist-visas/#sthash.AbhGLHZ1.dpuf
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