USCIS has partnered with business experts to ‘supposedly’ improve the way they approach the employment-based and high-skilled visa categories used by immigrant entrepreneurs. We’d really like to hope for the best on this that something major occurs as a result of opening up to public expertise and excellence in order to relax the restrictive business immigration environment that is prevalent at this time.

Director Alejandro Mayorkas kicked-off this innovative program, called the Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) initiative, with an Information Summit in Silicon Valley in February. Now, USCIS has entered a new phase of the initiative by bringing together the EIR Tactical Team. For 90 days this collaborative team, comprised of both USCIS employees and entrepreneurs from the private sector, will identify opportunities where USCIS can streamline pathways for foreign entrepreneurs. Team members began their work at USCIS in late March.

Last week, they traveled to the California Service Center and met with USCIS officers to discuss the visa categories most often used by immigrant entrepreneurs: H-1B, L-1 E-1, E-2, and O-1.

We direct you to Team Member bios here.

Our talented team at Immigration Solutions that handles our Extraordinary Ability Arts, Entertainment and Sports visa practice for the USA, understands the unique time lines and needs associated when working with people of accomplishment.  We work hand in hand with the principal applicant, their representatives and the employer/sponsor to develop and design compelling and convincing casework based upon each client’s extraordinary skills and abilities in their particular field of endeavor.

There are O-1 visas for extraordinary ability in the arts which include any field of creative activity or endeavor such as, but not limited to, fine arts, visual arts, culinary arts, and performing arts; those engaged in the field of arts include not only the principal creators and performers but other essential persons such as, but not limited to, directors, set designers, lighting designers, sound designers, choreographers,  conductors, composers, musicians, orchestrators, coaches, arrangers, musical supervisors, costume designers, makeup artists, flight masters, stage technicians, animal trainers, etc.

Extraordinary achievement with respect to motion picture and television productions, as commonly defined in the industry, means a very high level of accomplishment in the motion picture or television industry evidenced by a degree of skill and recognition significantly above that ordinarily encountered to the extent that the person is recognized as outstanding, notable, or leading in the motion picture or television field.

Extraordinary ability with respect to those in the  sciences, education, business or athletics requires that applicants demonstrate that they possess a level of expertise indicating that the person is one of a small percentage who has risen to the top of the field of endeavor.

It’s important to understand the various options available to artists seeking sponsorship (a US employer), which is not necessarily required for this visa classification.  An itinerary of upcoming events can often times be used in lieu of a direct employer-employee arrangement.  A US-based agent can file a petition for artists and entertainers who are considered ‘self-employed’ and are represented by agents who manage and arrange employment on their behalf for several project employers.  Another workable situation is where a foreign employer authorizes an agent to act on its behalf.

A US agent can assume the role of the actual employer of the artist; can be the representative of both the artist and the employer(s); or, a person or entity authorized by the employer to act on its behalf as its agent.

Please contact us by email at info@immigrationsolution.net, and let us know your thoughts and ideas.  We will send you our checklists and together assess your eligibility for either the O-1 visa or the EB-1 green-card (permanent residence).

The importance of having a strategy and planning ahead for visas to the USA cannot be stressed enough – we have a more complex system and it just simply takes longer than other countries.

Under the Bush administration, Cuban nationals were not granted US visas. This article cites unfortunate timing issues that prevented the Cuban group Buena Vista Social Club from entering the USA in time for their 3 scheduled US concerts.

Plan ahead as best as you can and work with providers who will go the extra mile on your behalf and make it happen.

Arizona Immigration Law Could Cost US World Cup

As reported in The Arizona Republic, the US bid to host the 2018 or the 2022 World Cup may be jeopardized by plans to include as one of the 18 venues the University of Phoenix Stadium if awarded the two World Cups.

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Arts Community Submit Comments to Immigration Services

On May 11, USCIS opened a public comment period, inviting feedback regarding a specific area of artist visa processing (the O-1 Visa) concerning the amount of time allowable between multiple engagements in a single visa approval period.  Here is a copy of the draft memo open for public comment.  Dance USA, in partnership with the National Performing Arts Visa Working Group, submitted comments to USCIS on May 24th.

Dance USA reports on questions by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) to USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas regarding problems with arts visa processing:

On Tuesday, May 11, the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration held an oversight hearing on USCIS. Senator Hatch (R-UT) questioned USCIS Director Mayorkas about O and P visas, the ARTS Act, the increase in Requests for More Evidence and denials of artist visas, and the inconsistent processing at the California Processing Center. Director Mayorkas responded that he is fully aware of the challenges that petitioners are experiencing and he is working to fix the problems. He stated that USCIS is beginning a broad review of the O and P visa processing system. Senator Hatch underscored that the problems surrounding artist visas are hurting the cultural affairs of our country and that his staff receives a lot of work from constituents on this issue. Other subcommittee members at the meeting included Sen. Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. Sessions (R-AL), Sen. Franken (D-MN), and Sen. Leahy (D-VT).

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A Soccer World Cup Ticket is a Visa to South Africa

Addressing the joint committees on the state of readiness for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said free event visas would be awarded to those with a valid FIFA World Cup ticket, while dedicated lanes would be set aside for those coming to the tournament, Bua news agency reported. For more

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Fila Launches in Guyana

Top local athletes, basketball star Akeem Kanhai, bodybuilder Sylvon Gardener and sprinter Alicia Fortune are the new faces of the popular Italian Sportswear Company FILA In Guyana.  The sportswear was launched Friday May 14th at Giftland OfficeMax the sole authorized distributor in Guyana.

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Jamaica Reggae Stars Denied Visas

The island nation is abuzz with reports that the U.S. has cancelled visas for a number of top entertainers. At least one major concert has been postponed, and some say it’s all about the extradition of a politically connected drug lord.

The apparent visa revocations are hitting the Jamaican music scene in Southern California and elsewhere in the U.S., according to music industry sources. Producers of the 13th Annual Seabreeze Festival, which has traditionally offered a lineup of reggae performers in Long Beach, recently said their decision to postpone the July 11 event owed in part to the “uncertainty of guaranteeing artist performance based on the current visa revocation issue surrounding Jamaican Dancehall Reggae artists.”

Reports making the rounds in Jamaica say that at least five top reggae entertainers have had their U.S. visas revoked in recent months. The Jamaica Star and various blogs have reported that Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Adonia, Ricky Trooper, and Movado have seen their permission to travel to the U.S. cancelled. Other reports say that two other well-known reggae artists — Eek-a-Mouse and Sizzla — have also had their visas revoked.

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Why Work with us?

Immigration Solutions provides US and global immigration services and solutions to the arts, entertainment and sports industries, amongst others.  Our staff is accustomed to dealing with celebrated personalities and brands and we have successfully obtained visas for actors, directors, athletes, coaches, sports broadcasters and other individuals of accomplishment and renown.

We understand the unique needs associated with working with celebrities and high profile personalities and we maintain distinct focus on building a bridge between the needs of our clients and their global business opportunities.

If you’d like to consult with us or become a client of our office, please contact us at info@immigrationsolution.net or call 562 612.3996.