P-2 Visa

The P-2 visa is given to those who come temporarily to perform as an artist or entertainer whether individually or as part of a group, who will perform under an alternate exchange program between an organization in the U.S. and an organization in another country.

  •  P-2 visa applicants must obtain similar skills to those of U.S. performers which take part in the program outside the U.S.
  • P-2 Visas are issued to troupes or bands entering the U.S. as a part of an exchange program.

The P-2 visa is given to those who come temporarily to perform as an artist or entertainer whether individually or as part of a group, who will perform under an alternate exchange program between an organization in the U.S. and an organization in another country. P-2 visa applicants must obtain similar skills to those of U.S. performers which take part in the program outside the U.S. Artists and athletes are essential for a healthy cultural exchange. The global community benefits greatly from the work of each country’s greatest thinkers and performers. P-2 Visas are issued to troupes or bands entering the U.S. as a part of an exchange program.

P-2 Visa Necessary Elements

There are some basic elements which ensure whether an applicant is eligible for a P-2 Visa or not:

  • First and the foremost applicant(s) must be an artist or entertainer.
  • Applicant(s) may be individual or a part of a group which is invited to participate in the alternate exchange program between an organization in the US and an organization in another country.
  • Applicant(s) (artist/entertainer) must be as skillful as compared to those of the U.S. artists and entertainers participating in the program abroad.
  • Applicant(s) may need to meet certain health and character requirements.
  • Finally, there must be a U.S. employer, organization or agent who will sponsor their participation in the exchange program in the US.

Application Procedure

To qualify for a P-2 Visa, a sponsoring labor organization in the U.S. or your U.S. employer must file Form I-129, Petition for a Non-Immigrant Worker. A petitioner as an agent, when filing petition for multiple employers must organize that it is properly authorized to act as an agent. See the memorandum “Requirements for Agents and Sponsors Filing as Petitioners for the O and P Visa Classifications”.

Documentation

Either the U.S. labor group that negotiated the exchange agreement, the sponsoring organization or the U.S. employer must file the petition. P-2 applicants may be asked to provide the following documents:

  • Proof of the agreement between the organizations involved in the exchange.
  • A letter from the sponsoring organization describing the exchange which is to take place.
  • Copy of the formal alternate exchange agreement between the sponsoring U.S. organization(s) and the organization(s) in abroad which will accept the U.S. artist or entertainer (USCIS).
  • A written consultation by an appropriate labor organization (USCIS).
  • Proof that the nonimmigrant visa petitioner and the U.S. artist or entertainer have “comparable skills and that the terms and conditions of employment are similar” (USCIS).
  • Proof about an appropriate labor organization in the United States was involved in negotiating or has concurred with, the alternate exchange of U.S. and foreign artists or entertainers (USCIS).

Note: If the performance happens in different areas, an outline must be presented including dates and locations of the events.

Family Status

Your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 may obtain P-4 status. Your dependents may not engage in employment but may attend school or college (USCIS).

Personnel Support

Essential personnel support with an entire part of the performance of a P- 2 artist or entertainer and who perform support services that cannot be readily performed by a U.S. worker is eligible for P-2 classification. Personnel support may include trainers, stagehands, or those persons having critical knowledge of the specific services to be performed.
The U.S. employer must file a separate Form I-129 for support personnel. The petition must include the following documents:

  • A written consultation by an appropriate labor organization.
  • A statement describing the support person’s prior and current basically, critical skills, and experience with the P-2 artist or entertainer (USCIS).
  • Copy of a written contract between the employer and the supported person or a summary of the terms of the oral agreement under which the support person will be employed (USCIS).

Source of Information: www.uscis.gov