DHS about to kill the Concert Tour by foreign performers

 From NME.com;

US proposing rule changes that would hike touring visa costs for foreign musicians by 250 per cent

The increases are needed due to high demand and insufficient staff at the Citizenship and Immigration department

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is planning to raise touring visa fees for foreign acts by more than 250 per cent.

DHS has written in its proposal that applications for a P visa, which is for acts arriving in the US to perform temporarily, would increase from the current rate of $460 (£375.23) to $1,615 (£1,317).

The O visa, which is a longer term work visa, would jump from $460 (£375.23) to $1,655 (£1,349).

Both increases include a $600 (£489) surcharge to fund the US government’s asylum program.

The proposed hike for the O visa puts it at a 260 per cent jump. The fee for P visa, meanwhile, marks a 251 per cent increase.

Please click the link to go over to NME and read the whole article: Proposed Rule Change price hike 250%

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To file a comment against the proposed rule please use the following link:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements

I don't know about you, but I know this will hurt many bands, groups and troupe's, not to mention any visiting artists or musicians who don't have the backing of a production company or record label.