“Behind the Scenes” Entertainment Workers
If you are part of a film crew, or a musician’s crew, or band support staff such as a tour manager, stage manager, special effects coordinator, music composer, booking agent or producer, and you wish to come to the U.S. with the O or P category applicant, you can do so under a support personnel visa of the original O or P visa applicant.
We routinely work with talented foreign professional and their crew members to acquire work visas on their behalf and we are intimately familiar with the requirements and application procedures for these visas. An O or P visa may be available to crew members of musicians and film/TV industry talents who wish to perform in the U.S. and who meet the “extraordinary ability” requirements.
O-2 Visa for Support Personnel
The O-2 category applies to foreign nationals accompanying an O-1 artist or athlete to assist in a specific event or performance. This person would be acting as an essential and integral part of the artistic or athletic performance of an O-1 artist or athlete because they perform support services which cannot be performed by a U.S. worker which are essential to the performance.
Eligibility Requirements
The work performed must be temporary. The individual must possess skills that are extraordinary within the field of sciences, arts, education, business, athletics, or within the field of motion picture or television industry. Proof of extraordinary ability can be contracts, awards, nominations, fees earned, published articles, etc. that document the individual’s achievement.
An O-1 petition has an initial period of stay of up to 3 years. Subsequent extensions may last for no more than one year at a time and there is no limit to the number of extensions that may be filed. Extensions may be granted indefinitely if the need for the employment remains. An O-1 employee that has filed an extension petition can continue working while the extension request is pending with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for up to 240 days beyond the expiration of the authorized stay.
The O-1 petition and approval process takes approximately 3 to 4 months. If needed, USCIS offers an option for expediting O-1 petitions called Premium Processing which will require an additional $1000 fee. Premium processing can reduce O-1 processing times significantly.
The following documents must accompany an O visa application:
- Form DS-156 (non-immigrant visa application)
- Passport of the applicant
- A recent photograph meeting USCIS requirements
- Visa application fee
- Approval Notice (Form I-797) of the O petition
- Formal job offer letter
- Advisory Opinion
- O-1 petition
- Supporting evidence of extraordinary ability
P Visa
The P-2 or P-3 visa can be used by a wide array of entertainment groups including musicians, dancers, singers and their supporting staff. The entertainment group must be coming to the U.S. to participate in entertainment events, and must have achieved international recognition for a substantial and sustained period. Individuals offering assistance and support to the entertainment group may also use this category.
Eligibility Requirements
The work performed must be temporary. The individual must possess skills that are extraordinary within the field of arts, athletics, or within the field of motion picture or television industry. Proof of extraordinary ability can be contracts, awards, nominations, fees earned, published articles, etc. that document the individual’s achievement.
Spouses and children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany the principal P visa holder for the duration of the stay require derivative P-4 status. Spouses or children who do not intend to reside in the U.S with the principal P visa holder, but who wish to visit the U.S. for vacation, may be eligible to apply for visitor visas.
Document Requirements:
Along with the I-129 petition, the following supporting documents should be submitted:
- Written advisory opinion from the appropriate labor organization or union which evaluates the person’s or group’s ability
- Contract with a major U.S. sports league or team or one commensurate with international recognition in the sport
- Written statement from a U.S. official in the sport detailing how the individual or team is internationally recognized
- Written statement from a bona fide expert in the field detailing how the individual or team is recognized within the sport
- Evidence of the individual’s or team’s ranking
- Evidence of a significant honor or award in the field
Please contact us to start your immigration application now.