P-2/3 VISA

P-2 and P-3 Artists

P-2 Artists. Person who performs as an artist or entertainer, individually or as part of a group, and seeks to enter the United States temporarily and solely for the purpose of performing as such an artist or entertainer or with such a group under a reciprocal exchange program which is between an organization or organizations in the United States and an organization or organizations in one or more foreign states and which provides for the temporary exchange of artists and entertainers. P-2 petitions cannot be granted without a consultation from the appropriate labor union; however, performers’ unions are usually the organization operating the program.

P-3 Artists. P-3 classification may be accorded to artists or entertainers, individually or as a group, coming to the United States for the purpose of developing, interpreting, representing, coaching, or teaching a unique or traditional ethnic, folk, cultural, musical, theatrical, or artistic performance or presentation. The program may be of a commercial or noncommercial nature.

A petition for P-3 classification requires:

1) Letters from recognized experts attesting to the authenticity of the performer's skills in performing, presenting, coaching, or teaching the unique or traditional art form, or

2) Documentation that the performance is culturally unique, as evidence by reviews in newspapers, journals, or other published materials; and

3) Evidence that all of the performances or presentations will be culturally unique events.

Essential Support Personnel. This is a companion P-3S visa for a person associated with a P-3 performer. (S)he must be a highly skilled, essential person who is an integral part of the performance of a P-3 artist because he or she performs support services which cannot be readily performed by a United States worker and which are essential to the successful performance of services by the P-3 artist. (S)he must have appropriate qualifications to perform the services, critical knowledge of the specific services to be performed, and experience in providing such support to the P-3 artist. The P-3S Visa requires labor union consultation.

Spouse and dependents.

The spouse and unmarried minor children of a P- 1, P-2, or P-3 beneficiary are entitled to companion visas, subject to the same period of admission and limitations as the principal beneficiary, if they are accompanying or following to join the beneficiary in the United States. Neither the spouse nor a child of the alien beneficiary may accept employment.

Time. P-2 and P-3 aliens are admitted for a period of time necessary to complete the event, activity, or performance, up to 1 year, and it may be renewed year by year.