O and P Nonimmigrant Visa Classifications: Performing Arts and Entertainment
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invited you to participate in a teleconference on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Eastern) to provide feedback on issues regarding O and P nonimmigrant visa classifications in the performing arts and entertainment industry.
Last year, USCIS concluded the first phase of its Entrepreneurs in Residence initiative that brought startup experts from the private sector together with USCIS immigration experts in an effort to provide pathways for immigrant entrepreneurs that are clear, consistent, and aligned with business realities.
Building on this successful model, USCIS again leveraged the DHS Loaned Executive program to recruit experts in the arts and entertainment industry. The Loaned Executive program is a mechanism to allow top executives from various fields to join USCIS as hands-on participants in a variety of critical projects and initiatives related to their areas of industry expertise. USCIS has formed a team, again comprised of private sector experts and USCIS immigration experts, to work collaboratively over six months and explore how USCIS can enhance clarity and consistency in performing arts and entertainment adjudications.
This engagement provided an opportunity for the newly assembled team to hear from stakeholders on topics regarding O and P visas to inform the team’s direction. Issues of particular interest include agents, O visa eligibility standards, unions and consultation requirements, industry standards regarding contracts or agreements, and itineraries. The new “Executives in Residence” participated in the listening session to hear directly from their peers on issues of importance to the performing arts and entertainment industry.