Working in the USA: P2 Visa
To travel to the United States and work as a visiting musician legally, you
will have to get a P2 Visa from the US Immigration and Naturalization Service
(INS).
Due to recent security related measures at the border, this is getting to be
much harder than it used to be. Make sure you allow a lot of time for the
application to go through and work on your "patience skills". This
checklist will help you prepare your "P2 Visa Application"
1) You may apply for a 'P2' Work permit for up to and including 365 days (a
one year period) PROVIDING you have a CONFIRMED engagement for EVERY 30 days
during that period..
2) P2 Work Permits take at least 120 days (4 months) to get approved.
3) Ensure that you have completed an application for each and every musician
and/or technician that is entering the U.S.A. Ensure that you have designated a
Port of Entry - it is very difficult to change your Port of Entry once sent to
INS. For further clarification, please call the AFM Canadian Head Office.
4) Ensure that the musicians you are applying for are all AFM MEMBERS.
5) Ensure that the AFM's Policy of Indemnity (back of application) is signed
(for groups of 2 or more, only one Policy has to be signed on behalf of the
group)
6) Please ensure your union dues are paid up to and including the dates you
are applying for - photocopies of your union cards should be included when applying.
7) CONTRACTS OR ITINERARY'S: As stated in Section 1, you must have a
contracted engagement for every 30 days in the U.S.A. INS will accept an
itinerary (without contracts) providing it specifies DATE OF ENGAGEMENT, EXACT
PLACE OF ENGAGEMENT AND COMPENSATION. Attach as many signed contracts to the
itinerary as possible. Contracts and itinerary MUST be specific - the INS will
not accept an itinerary based on tentative engagements, nor will they accept
'general' employment letters.
8) FEES
- $190.00 U.S. Dollars made payable to IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICES
(INS) - MUST be a U.S. Dollar Money Order. Cash is NOT acceptable, and personal
cheques drawn from a U.S. dollar account are no longer accepted. This fee is per
petition (flat fee regardless of number of musicians). Important: Should you be
including technicians, there is an additional charge of $190.00 U.S. for a total
of $260.00 U.S.
- $20.00 Canadian made payable to the AFM, Canadian Head Office for processing
fees - if you are allowing the required time of 90 days.
- Optional: additional $1000.00 U.S. for Premium Processing (e.g. total $1130
U.S. funds). This will get a response within 15 calendar days of receipt by
I.N.S. Please note: Should you require an expedite for musicians and
technicians, please be advised that there is an additional fee of $1000.00 U.S.
for U.S. immigration. The total fee would be $260 U.S. for the petitions, and
$2000 U.S. for premium processing. Please ensure separate money orders are
provided.
9) If you are bringing merchandise into the U.S.A: please call Corina
Robidoux at AFM's Canadian Head Office for further information.
10) Once you have filled out the required documentation, please send to:
Attn: Corina Robidoux
Canadian Head Office
American Federation of Musicians
75 The Donway West, Suite 1010
Don Mills, Ontario
M3C 2E9
Canada
11) Once your application is received in this office, it will be sent to
INS, Vermont Service Centre. Within 3 to 4 weeks this office will be issued an
original 'NOTICE of ACTION' - this is your approval notice. This is the documentation
that you bring to your designated PORT OF ENTRY. From this approval notice, US
Immigration will issue you an 1-94 Departure Record for your duration of stay.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ARE ISSUED THIS CARD! US Immigration has the right to
charge an additional $6.00 U.S. for the issuance of this card PER PERSON.
Avoid unnecessary delays by providing completed information with your
request.
The following may be used as a final ‘checklist’ before mailing your
request.
q
One completed application for every musician (Part 1a, Part
2 and Part 3) and one completed application for every technician (Part 1b, Part
2 and Part 3)
q
Please submit a listing of all
musician(s) and/or technician(s) names along with their job descriptions ON A
SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER eg: bass, drums, sound engineer, lighting technician,
etc.
q
All musicians named on this application are members in good
standing of The American Federation of Musicians, and Part 2 has been completed
or membership verification has been provided.
q
A money order is attached in U.S. dollars payable to “U.S.C.I.S.”
(United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) in the amount of
$130.00 (flat fee regardless of the
number of musicians). Please be
advised that you can make the money orders payable to “U.S.C.I.S.”.
q
If applying for technician/crew members, an additional
U.S. Dollar Money Order payable to U.S.C.I.S. in the amount of $130.00
(flat fee regardless of number of technician/crew members). Please note, in a case
where there are both musician and technician applications you may submit one (1)
money order for the amount of $260.00USD made payable to U.S.C.I.S.
q
Part Three (3) on the application (Policy of Indemnity) is
filled out and signed by the agent or member applicant/musician.
q
I have enclosed $20.00 in Canadian funds made payable to AFM
for administrative processing fees.
q
Copies of all employment contracts and/or verification of
same are attached INCLUDING verification of employment for any technical
crew. AFM Canada highly recommends
that you utilize the ‘Traveling Engagement Contract – Form T2 that is
included with this P2 package.
q
If member(s) of my unit are landed immigrants, I have
contacted Corina Robidoux at AFM Canada for further information on proper
procedures.
q
I have designated a Port of Entry for all applicants and
have confirmation (if traveling by air) from my travel agent of my itinerary and
Pre-Flight Inspection information.
q
If PREMIUM
PROCESSING is being requested, I have contacted Corina Robidoux at AFM
Canada to advise of its arrival.
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE BEST FORM OF IDENTIFICATION YOU
CAN PROVIDE TO U.S IMMIGRATION IS A VALID PASSPORT. WE STRONGLY ADVISE THAT BOTH YOURSELF AND MEMBERS OF
YOUR BAND OBTAIN A PASSPORT FOR ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES.
Please contact your designated Port of Entry or
Pre-Flight Inspection with questions regarding custom clearance of instruments,
equipment and merchandise.
It is always advisable when traveling to other countries
that you obtain additional out-of-country
health insurance, especially in cases where consecutive periods of time are
spent working abroad.
If you have any questions, or you are unsure of any of these procedures,
please call Corina Robidoux, of the AFM Canadian Head Office, at (416) 391-5161 or 1-800-463-6333
before submitting a request.
For requests involving an "extension" please call for information .
Note: Text originally compiled by the London Musicians' Association. This
information was last updated on April 26, 2002. While we have made every effort
to make sure the information here is up to date, it is always best to call the
COMA Office to check first.
Getting the Forms
You can get the P2 Visa Application forms from the COMA Office.
