- New US visa proposals increase costs for artists by 251%
- Plans means 70% of acts will be unable to tour the US – and
up to half of US tours could be cancelled
- UK music industry calls on ministers to urgently intervene
The UK music industry is calling on Business and Trade Secretary
to help block plans for a
huge rise in US visa costs that will hit touring UK musicians and
crew.
As the collective voice for the UK music industry, UK Music has
written to the Cabinet Minister urging her to persuade her
American counterparts to drop the “deeply damaging” hike that
would see fees rise by at least 251%.
In the letter, signed by
organisations from across the UK music industry, UK Music Chief
Executive highlights the
potential impact of the proposed increase in fees by the US
Department of Homeland Security for certain types of touring visa
fees for non-US citizens.
He urges the Business and Trade Secretary to join calls for the
planned visa hikes to be scrapped to avoid dealing a major blow
to the UK music industry and its talent pipeline, which is vital
in creating the global UK stars of the future.
Music industry leaders are also urging Foreign Secretary to join efforts to scrap the
massive hike, which is also being fiercely opposed by the
American music industry.
The USA is the world’s largest music market and the second
largest market for touring UK artists, after the EU. With the
ongoing cost of living crisis and the UK’s live music sector
still recovering from the impact of COVID-19, the exorbitant
increases would make it unaffordable for many British acts to
work and perform in the world’s biggest music market.
The process for applying for a US visa is already long, complex,
and prohibitively expensive for many UK musicians. Last year,
even before the proposed price hikes were announced, Mercury
Prize-winning artist Little Simz cancelled her US tour, citing
the financial unviability for an independent artist.
In a survey by UK Music members, Music Managers Forum (MMF) and
the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), 70% of their members said
the increased visa charges would mean they were no longer be able
to tour the USA.
According to the Musicians Union, 96% of their members surveyed
said that increased fees will impact the feasibility of future
touring, and 26% noted that they will now make a loss on their
tours because of this.
Data from LIVE, which represents the live music sector, shows
that these proposals will put 50% of all UK tours in the USA
under threat.
The proposals mean that petition fees for the P visa – used for
acts to perform temporarily in the US – will increase by 251%
from $460 (£385) to $1,615 (£1352) and the O visa – used for a
longer-term working visit – would climb by 260% from $460 (£385)
to $1,655 (£1,375).
Also, the time for fast processing of applications is being
increased from 15 calendar days to 15 working days, without a
decrease in costs, for a service that already costs $2,500
(£2,080).
UK Music Chief Executive said:
“America is one of the most important global markets for British
musicians, and breaking into the States can be critical to a
musician or band’s career – but this increase in visa fees risks
making a US tour unaffordable for emerging acts.
“These deeply damaging proposals would be catastrophic, both for
UK artists and for their American audiences who have a huge
appetite for British music. These plans must be scrapped.
“The UK and US have enjoyed decades of mutually beneficial
musical exchange that have strengthened our special relationship
and brought huge social, cultural and economic benefits. We
should be making it easier for musicians to tour the States, not
harder.
“We call on ministers to urgently raise this issue with their US
counterparts and work with them to avoid an outcome that would be
mutually detrimental to both our countries.”
END
Notes to editors:
The full letter can be read here.
Artist quotes and more information can be found on the MMF and
FAC’s Let The Music Move website: letthemusicmove.org.
Information on Little Simz tour cancellation can be found
here.
Example costs:
If a major orchestra or ensemble with 80 members wanted to tour
the US, it would need to file four petitions at a total cost of
$6460 (£1,352) in US Citizens and Immigration Services filing
fees (four petitions x $1,615 [£5,408]). If they needed support
staff (managers, stage crew, etc.) that would require an
additional petition at a cost of an additional $1,615 (£1,352).
If premium processing were required, that would cost an
additional $12,500 (£10,400); five petitions x $2500 (£2,080).
If a single artist wanted to enter with an accompanist, band,
company members, or crew, that would require O-1 and O-2
petitions at a cost of $3310 (£2,750); two petitions x $1655
(£2750).
The United States Department of Homeland Security and the US
Citizenship and Immigration Service’s comment period on this
issue runs until March 6, 2023. We are calling on the UK
Government to work with their US counterparts to scrap these
proposals. The visa process for US musicians entering the UK to
work is far simpler and less costly, and we believe that this
should be reciprocated by the US.
Comments can be submitted to the Department for Homeland Security
here.
