The Musicians’ Union (MU) and British Underground have issued fresh advice for artists travelling to the US, following several cases of revoked visas at this year’s SXSW.
Both organisations have said they are no longer recommending musicians travel using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) scheme to play at industry showcases.
Instead, they should apply for other forms of visa, such as the B1/B2 or O and P, which are more costly and time-consuming to receive.
The MU and British Underground made the announcement just weeks after many UK artists, including Yussef Kamaal and Dan Bettridge were refused entry into the country to perform at SXSW.
They said in a statement: ‘We are currently investigating the issues further through the Music Industry Visa Task Force but, until we are able to establish why this happened, we must now advise musicians that their best course of action is to apply for a B1/B2 visa or, if performing outside the permitted showcase exception, a P or O visa. The B Visa is less costly and time consuming than the O or the P visa.
‘With further US showcase opportunities on the horizon such as Americanafest, A3C and Folk Alliance International, we have no choice but to recommend that any artist invited to perform at a US showcase begin the visa application process soon.
‘We are aware of the time and cost implications of this, and note that visa costs can be included in applications to the PRS Foundation International Showcase Fund.’
Members of the MU can contact Viva La Visa for help and advice, and will receive a 20 percent discount if their services are engaged.
For more info on the PRS Foundation’s International Showcase Fund, please see http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/funding/international-showcase-fund/
Read our recent article, Essential Guide for Artists Travelling to the US, by immigration attorney Andrea Szew.
Both organisations have said they are no longer recommending musicians travel using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) scheme to play at industry showcases.
Instead, they should apply for other forms of visa, such as the B1/B2 or O and P, which are more costly and time-consuming to receive.
The MU and British Underground made the announcement just weeks after many UK artists, including Yussef Kamaal and Dan Bettridge were refused entry into the country to perform at SXSW.
They said in a statement: ‘We are currently investigating the issues further through the Music Industry Visa Task Force but, until we are able to establish why this happened, we must now advise musicians that their best course of action is to apply for a B1/B2 visa or, if performing outside the permitted showcase exception, a P or O visa. The B Visa is less costly and time consuming than the O or the P visa.
‘With further US showcase opportunities on the horizon such as Americanafest, A3C and Folk Alliance International, we have no choice but to recommend that any artist invited to perform at a US showcase begin the visa application process soon.
‘We are aware of the time and cost implications of this, and note that visa costs can be included in applications to the PRS Foundation International Showcase Fund.’
Members of the MU can contact Viva La Visa for help and advice, and will receive a 20 percent discount if their services are engaged.
For more info on the PRS Foundation’s International Showcase Fund, please see http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/funding/international-showcase-fund/
Read our recent article, Essential Guide for Artists Travelling to the US, by immigration attorney Andrea Szew.
