P2 VISA — WORKING IN THE U.S.

To travel to the United States and work as a visiting musician legally, you will have to get a P2 Visa from the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

Due to recent security related measures at the border, this is getting to be much harder than it used to be. Make sure you allow a lot of time for the application to go through.

Although this checklist will help you prepare your P2 Visa Application, it is only a guide. Please get in touch with Edith Stacey at the EMA office for the most current forms and information.

P2 Visa Application Checklist

You may apply for a P2 Work permit for up to and including 365 days providing you have a confirmed engagement for every 30 days applied for.
P2 Work Visa permits are now taking an average of 100 to 120 days due to post 9/11 background checks. With regards to "showcase" letters, AFM members must now apply for a P2 permit when seeking to do a showcase gig in the USA. Finally, it is important that members applying for a P2 permit realize that this permit is not an OPEN permit. Should a member apply for a year-long permit and wish to add extra gigs, US INS must be informed of these extra days with the new fee. The revised itinerary and contracts are then updated in the INS system.
Ensure that you have completed an application for each and every musician and/or technician that is entering the U.S. Ensure that you have designated a Port of Entry. It is very difficult to change your Port of Entry once sent to INS. For further clarification, please call the Canadian Head Office at (416) 391-5161.
Ensure that the musicians you are applying for are all AFM Members.
Ensure that the AFM's Policy of Indemnity (back of application) is signed (for groups of 2 or more, only one Policy has to be signed on behalf of the group).
Please ensure your union dues are paid up to and including the dates you are applying for. Copies of your union cards should be included when applying.
Contracts or Itineraries: As stated in Section 1, you must have a contracted engagement for every 30 days in the U.S. INS will accept an itinerary (without contracts) providing it specifies date of engagement, exact place of engagement and compensation. Attach as many signed contracts to the itinerary as possible. Contracts and itinerary MUST be specific. INS will not accept an itinerary based on tentative engagements, nor will they accept 'general' employment letters.
Fees:
Contact the EMA office for the current fees

Please be advised that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) is increasing the Petition fee for regular processing from US$190.00 to US$320.00 effective July 30, 2007.

The AFM strenuously attempted to prevent this increase through the efforts of Hal Ponder/AFM who was active on the Performing Arts Visa Task Force.

If you know that you have an upcoming tour in the US, it would be advisable to apply for the P2 BEFORE the increase takes effect.

Processing Fees:
C$20 made payable to the AFM, Canadian Head Office for processing fees if you are allowing the required time of 90 days.

Premium Processing:
Additional US$1000 for Premium Processing (e.g. total US$1130). This will get a response within 15 calendar days of receipt by INS. Please note: Should you require an expedite for musicians and technicians, please be advised that there is an additional fee of US$1000 for U.S. immigration. The total fee would be US$260 for the petitions, and US$2000 for premium processing. Please ensure that separate money orders are provided.
If you are bringing merchandise into the U.S., please call Lidia McGeown at AFM's Canadian Head Office (416) 391-5161 for further information.
Once you have filled out the required documentation, please send to:

American Federation of Musicians
75 The Donway West, Suite 1010
Don Mills, ON M3C 2E9

ATTENTION: Lidia McGeown
Once your application is received in this office, it will be sent to INS, Vermont Service Centre. Within 3 to 4 weeks this office will be issued a 1-797B Notice of Action from the Department of Homeland Security.

If you have any questions or if you are unsure of any procedures, please call Lidia McGeown at (416) 391-5161 or 1-800-463-6333 before submitting a request.

For requests involving an 'extension', please call for information.

For the most up-to-date information, please contact the EMA office.

top

Forgot your username or password?

Request a
Username & Password

Information available to
EMA members only:

Membership/Instrument Directory
Live Performance Contract
EMA Tariff of Fees
Recording Fees Summary
Apollo Newsletter