5838  Changes by Immigration Authorities with respect to

Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 06:59:24 -0800 (PST)
From: chicagomilonguero <chicagomilonguero@yahoo.com>
Subject: [Tango-L] Changes by Immigration Authorities with respect to
the granting of P & O Visas
To: tango-l@mit.edu

A recent policy change by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service could create considerable challenges for tango instructors interested in touring the United States. As of October 7th, visa petitions may not be filed by a single employer on behalf of multiple arts organizations for artists coming to the U.S. for an itinerary of events, unless the petitioning employer is in the business of being an an agent. As a result, if an artist plans to travel to the U.S. for multiple engagements in one or more cities (unless one of the petitioning employers is legally an agent and obtains permission to file as the primary petitioner on the other arts organizations behalf), each venue must file a separate visa petition.

I believe a number of tango instructors have had difficulties in obtaining their work visas under this new policies. A number of organizations that deal with the arts and dance are trying to challenge the change in this policy. It is also not clear what will suffice the "agent" definition.


Ray Barbosa

Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 15:11:46 -0700
From: Huck Kennedy <tempehuck@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Changes by Immigration Authorities with respect
to the granting of P & O Visas
To: tango-l@mit.edu
<ecf43f370911061411s1fdd6acbx601862129ca89eb7@mail.gmail.com>

On Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 7:59 AM, chicagomilonguero
<chicagomilonguero@yahoo.com> wrote:

> A recent policy change by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service could create considerable challenges for tango instructors interested in touring the United States. As of October 7th, visa petitions may not be filed by a single employer on behalf of multiple arts organizations for artists coming to the U.S. for an itinerary of events, unless the petitioning employer is in the business of being an an agent. As a result, if an artist plans to travel to the U.S. for multiple engagements in one or more cities (unless one of the petitioning employers is legally an agent and obtains permission to file as the primary petitioner on the other arts organizations behalf), each venue must file a separate visa petition.
>
> I believe a number of tango instructors have had difficulties in obtaining their work visas under this new policies. ? A number of organizations that deal with the arts and dance are trying to challenge the change in this policy. ?It is also not clear what will suffice the "agent" definition.

No, the only thing clear is that our government can be a real
jerk at times. There, I said it.

Huck

Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 14:38:07 -0500
From: Michael <tangomaniac@cavtel.net>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Changes by Immigration Authorities with respect
to the granting of P & O Visas
To: chicagomilonguero <chicagomilonguero@yahoo.com>, TANGO-L@mit.edu
<13176a380911091138j4d082936q84d5150716895592@mail.gmail.com>

I wrote to a friend at USCIS to get a explanation for the rule change. Below
is the answer:

"But it should not affect teachers as they are not supposed to be using that
visa category anyway. The O and P visa for artists is only for performance
and support of performers, not the kind of instruction he seems to be
referring to."

It seems the rule applies to tango shows, not teaching at
festivals. Regardless of the rule, foreigners who work in the US still need
a I-765 work permit. I remember one festival reporting that their star
teacher wasn't admitted into the country and sent packing on the next
available flight.

If Immigration catches a tango instructor without a work permit, they can be
deported immediately.
Michael Ditkoff
Washington, DC
I'd danced Argentine Tango- - with the Argentines
On Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 9:59 AM, chicagomilonguero <
chicagomilonguero@yahoo.com> wrote:

> As of October 7th, visa petitions may not be filed by a single employer on
> behalf of multiple arts organizations for artists coming to the U.S. for an
> itinerary of events, unless the petitioning employer is in the business of
> being an an agent.
>
> I believe a number of tango instructors have had difficulties in obtaining
> their work visas under this new policies. A number of organizations that
> deal with the arts and dance are trying to challenge the change in this
> policy. It is also not clear what will suffice the "agent" definition.
>
>
> Ray Barbosa
>
>
>
>