Tamizdat Inc

🚨 Time is running out to urge Congress to sign the letter supporting artist visa processing improvements!

Contact your House representative TODAY using League of American Orchestras's ready-to-use email tool: https://americanorchestras.org/learn/advocate/contact-congress-today/?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f135338%2fRespond

Help keep international artists on our stages!

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is legally required to process O and P artist visas within 14 days. The reality? Average processing times exceed 10 months.

A bipartisan effort is urging action to ensure USCIS meets its 14-day processing requirement.

Contact Congress by March 18 and help fix the artist visa backlog ➡️ https://americanorchestras.org/learn/advocate/contact-congress-today/

Thanks to our advocacy partners at the League of American Orchestras.



globalFEST
CoveyLaw
Tamizdat Inc

Help keep international artists on our stages!

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is legally required to process O and P artist visas within 14 days. The reality? Average processing times exceed 10 months.

A bipartisan effort is urging action to ensure USCIS meets its 14-day processing requirement.

Contact Congress by March 18 and help fix the artist visa backlog ➡️ https://americanorchestras.org/learn/advocate/contact-congress-today/

Thanks to our advocacy partners at the League of American Orchestras.



globalFEST
CoveyLaw
Tamizdat Inc

Shifting visa policies, travel bans, rising costs, and processing delays are creating steep barriers to international arts exchange. With USCIS premium processing fee increases going into effect March 1, 2026 and extended timelines, many organizations face difficult choices and added strain.

APAP partners, including Artists from Abroad, League of American Orchestras, Tamizdat Inc, and CoveyLaw, are actively tracking changes, advocating for the field, and sharing practical tools.

We encourage you to explore the latest updates on the Artists from Abroad website, review Tamizdat’s Preparing for Immigration Enforcement resource, and read recent New York Times reporting on how recent changes are posing a looming crisis for the performing arts sector ➡️ https://apap365.org/visa-updates-and-immigration-resources/

Staying informed is essential to keeping global exchange possible.



Image: Insun Park & Generals performing at globalFEST 2026. Photo by Adam & Christy Kissick/APAP.

Our very own Matthew Covey was recently interviewed by The New York Times for the article “‘An Unbelievable Mess’: Artists Are Stymied by Trump Travel Bans” by Ben Sisario.

In this article, international artists, arts presenters, immigration lawyers, and more share how travel bans and rising costs have left the American performing arts sector in crisis.

“We are seeing clear signs that international artists are turning away from the U.S. market in droves,” Covey said, “choosing to tour where they can travel more freely, feel safe and welcomed, and can hope to at least break even.”

Visit the link in below for the full article about the current issues facing the industry.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/arts/music/trump-visas-touring-musicians.html