The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a price increase on visas for international artists who want to work and live in the US.
The P visa, a short-term visa needed for artists to tour and live in the US, would increase from the current rate of $460 to $1,615. This visa also applies to any “athlete, athletic team, and entertainment company with a job offer from a U.S. employer.”
The O visa is a longer-term work visa for those of “extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics” and would go from $460 to $1,655, according to the official proposal.
This is an over 200% increase.
There would also be a $600 surcharge to fund the US government’s asylum program and support the Citizenship and Immigration department.
Furthermore, the DHS proposal also suggests limiting each visa application to a maximum of 25 individuals before a separate application is required.
The last time artist visa fees rose was in 2016, but there was another increase suggested in 2020 that never went into effect.
If this proposal was confirmed and approved, it would become much more difficult and expensive for international artists to tour in the United States or live there for longer periods of time.
Watch the video below to see how the proposed visa price increases would affect all other types of visas:
