The US has delayed plans to significantly raise visa costs for foreign touring musicians and DJs.
Earlier this year, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said it would increase the cost of a P visa — which performing need for a short-term visit to the country — from $460 to $1,615. The price of the O visa, required for long-term visits – was also expected to rise from $460 to $1,655. These plans have now been put on hold until at least March 2024, following a Democrat-led campaign in the US Congress. The USCIS is also reportedly reconsidering the size of the future price increase.
The UK’s Musicians’ Union surveyed its members earlier this year when news of the price increases initially emerged, and 70 percent of respondents said that the hike meant that they would no longer be able to tour the US. Various industry bodies based in different parts of the world had been lobbying the USCIS to reconsider its plans.
