US proposes increase on visa fee for foreign touring artists

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing an increase in fees for foreign artists applying for visas.

Currently, P visas allow artists to tour the country on a temporary basis and according to the proposal are to increase from $460 to $1,615 (£375.69 to £1,318.99).

For the longer-term work visa known as the O visa, it is said it will rise from $460 to $1,655 (£375.57 to £1,351.24).

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This change in price includes the $600 surcharge that goes towards the US government's asylum program.

The DHS has chosen to increase fees due to “high demand and insufficient staff at the Citizenship and Immigration department.”

It’s recommended by the DHS that visa applications should stick to a maximum of 25 people as more than this will require a separate application.

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Premium processing is also available but at $2,500 (£2,040.32) which sees applications taking 15 calendar days however the DHS is suggesting this be changed to 15 business days.

The DHS proposed to increase its fees in 2020 by 50 percent but it was not put in place.

Before that, the last time fees increased for touring artists was in 2016.

On top of the P and O visas, the H-1B visa has also been proposed to increase in cost.

To find out more information on US visas click here.

Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Video and Editorial Assistant, follow her on Twitter