P2 Visa (Reciprocal Exchange Program Performers)

In order to acquire a P-2 Visa, artists and entertainers must first be sponsored by a U.S. employer or a sponsoring labor organization. Therefore, the first step in the visa application process will start with the employer or labor organization filing a Form I-129 (Petition for a Non-Immigrant Worker). After the petition is filed, the application will then proceed as follows:

1. Sponsor petitions the artist or entertainers by filing Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
2. The sponsor pays the application fee
3. The sponsor submits supporting documentation for the P-2 visa application
4. If the petition is approved, the process will then transfer to the National Visa Center who will ask the artist or entertainers to complete and submit Form DS-160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa)
5. Artist or entertainers pay the P-2 application fee
6. Artist or entertainers schedule and attend a visa interview at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate
7. After the interview, the artist or entertainers will then receive a decision regarding their visa application

Form DS-160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application) is an online form for nonimmigrant visa applications that can be found on the U.S. Department of State’s Consular Electronic Application Center’s official website. All applicants need to complete and submit this form in order to obtain a non-immigrant visa. Form DS-160 will request personal information such as the applicant’s background and reasons for entering the United States. Once completed, the applicant will be shown a confirmation page along with a confirmation number. It is very important that the applicant prints this confirmation page out and save it for later as it will need to be submitted with other supporting documentation later in the visa application process.

As always, make sure that you submit personal and sensitive information on secure websites that belong to an official government organization (for example, .gov websites that use an https:// which means that you are safely connected).

In addition to the Form I-129 petition, sponsors of artists and entertainers will need to submit additional supporting documentation to support the P-2 visa application. These documents may include the following:

• A written consultation by an appropriate labor organization (if a labor organization exists)
• A copy of the formal reciprocal exchange agreement between the sponsoring U.S. organization(s) and the organization(s) abroad which will receive the artist or entertainers
• A statement from the sponsoring organization describing the reciprocal exchange of the artists or entertainers (as it relates to the specific petition for which classification is sought)
• Evidence that both U.S. and foreign artists and entertainers are subject to the reciprocal exchange agreement and possess the talent and skills comparable to each other and that the terms and conditions of employment are similar
• Evidence that an appropriate labor organization in the United States was involved in negotiating, or is in agreement with, the reciprocal exchange of U.S. and foreign artists or entertainers
• An itinerary of events or performances including dates and locations (if the events or performances take place in multiple areas like on a tour)

P-2 visa holders can sponsor essential support personnel to join them in the United States. In order to do this, essential support personnel must be able to prove that they are an integral part of the performance of the artist or entertainer and whose duties can not be performed by a U.S. worker. For support staff to obtain P2 classification, the petitioner must file a separate Form I-129 for the essential personnel. In addition to the I-129 petition, the sponsor will also need to include the following:

• A written consultation from an appropriate labor organization
• A written statement describing the essential support person’s prior and current essential duties, critical skills, and experience with the artist or entertainer
• A copy of the written contract between the employer and the essential support personnel (or a summary of the terms of the oral agreement under which the support personnel will be employed)

Examples of essential support staff may include stagehands, trainers, or other individuals who possess the critical knowledge of the specific services which need to be performed

The following is a list of costs associated with applying for a P-2 visa:

• Form I-129 filing fee: $460
• DS-160 Application form fee: $190
• Visa Issuance fee: costs will vary depending on the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where the visa was issued
• Premium processing time fee (if needed): $2,500

It should be noted that additional costs will be incurred if the principal P2 visa holder would like to sponsor essential support personnel for visas.