Stop pricing international musicians out of United States stages
Stop pricing international musicians out of United States stages
The Issue
International touring artists generally need an O or P visa to perform in the United States. Standard processing takes months, so artists with booked tour dates are pushed into paying nearly $3,000 extra for premium processing just to get a decision in time. Many now start the process up to a year before a tour. On top of that, filing fees more than doubled for many O and P petitioners in 2024, and petitioners can now face an additional Asylum Program Fee of up to $600—a fee created to help fund the asylum system, even though these petitions are for artists and entertainers. Even after approval, artists can wait months for a visa interview at a U.S. consulate.
The current system pushes artists toward paying thousands of dollars for premium processing when regular processing cannot meet their tour schedules—even though federal law already establishes a timeline for adjudicating these petitions. Musicians shouldn't have to pay extra just to get their paperwork handled within the timeframe already required by law.
Small venues, festivals, and independent artists are hit hardest. International acts are becoming harder and more expensive to book, contributing to cancelled performances and tours. That means fewer shows for fans and lost business for the local restaurants, bars, and other businesses that depend on live music.
We call on Congress to:
- Enforce the deadline already in the law. Federal law, 8 U.S.C. § 1184(c)(6)(D), sets a 14-day timeline for adjudicating covered artist visa petitions after the labor consultation process and opportunity for rebuttal, yet standard processing can take months. Congress should ensure USCIS complies with this statutory deadline and establish meaningful accountability when it is missed.
- Exempt O and P petitions for artists and entertainers from the Asylum Program Fee.
- Expedite consulate appointments for performers with approved petitions and fixed tour dates.
- Require USCIS to report publicly on processing times for arts visas.
Music connects people across borders. Please sign and share so that bringing artists to American stages doesn't depend on who can afford to pay extra.
Musicians, venues, fans, and industry folks: share your story or volunteer to deliver this petition to your representative here: https://forms.gle/SdX3gEfNTo82tfqq7
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The Issue
International touring artists generally need an O or P visa to perform in the United States. Standard processing takes months, so artists with booked tour dates are pushed into paying nearly $3,000 extra for premium processing just to get a decision in time. Many now start the process up to a year before a tour. On top of that, filing fees more than doubled for many O and P petitioners in 2024, and petitioners can now face an additional Asylum Program Fee of up to $600—a fee created to help fund the asylum system, even though these petitions are for artists and entertainers. Even after approval, artists can wait months for a visa interview at a U.S. consulate.
The current system pushes artists toward paying thousands of dollars for premium processing when regular processing cannot meet their tour schedules—even though federal law already establishes a timeline for adjudicating these petitions. Musicians shouldn't have to pay extra just to get their paperwork handled within the timeframe already required by law.
Small venues, festivals, and independent artists are hit hardest. International acts are becoming harder and more expensive to book, contributing to cancelled performances and tours. That means fewer shows for fans and lost business for the local restaurants, bars, and other businesses that depend on live music.
We call on Congress to:
- Enforce the deadline already in the law. Federal law, 8 U.S.C. § 1184(c)(6)(D), sets a 14-day timeline for adjudicating covered artist visa petitions after the labor consultation process and opportunity for rebuttal, yet standard processing can take months. Congress should ensure USCIS complies with this statutory deadline and establish meaningful accountability when it is missed.
- Exempt O and P petitions for artists and entertainers from the Asylum Program Fee.
- Expedite consulate appointments for performers with approved petitions and fixed tour dates.
- Require USCIS to report publicly on processing times for arts visas.
Music connects people across borders. Please sign and share so that bringing artists to American stages doesn't depend on who can afford to pay extra.
Musicians, venues, fans, and industry folks: share your story or volunteer to deliver this petition to your representative here: https://forms.gle/SdX3gEfNTo82tfqq7
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Petition created on September 29, 2026