Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

CALL TO ACTION! ARTISTS COMMUNITY ASSEMBLE!

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023

LAW & DISORDER Performing Arts Division February 22, 2023  CALL TO ACTION! ARTS COMMUNITY ASSEMBLE!   We have until MARCH 13, 2023 to file public comments and objections to USCIS’s proposal to artist visa petition fees to nightmarish levels. As a reminder, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the consummate embodiment of incompetency, capriciousness, […]

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Artist Visa Updates, Force Majeure Clauses, Streaming Licenses, and Deep Thoughts

Thursday, December 8th, 2022

  LAW & DISORDER Performing Arts Division December 8, 2022   INSIDE THIS ISSUE > Artist Visa Updates < > Force Majeure Clauses < > Streaming Licenses <   > Congratulations! < > Deep Thoughts <  Artist Visa Updates  • Current USCIS Service Center Processing Times Vermont Service Center: Standard Processing: 4 – 6 weeks Premium […]

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Backlogs at US Consulates, New USCIS forms, Contract Entirety Clauses, and Board Term Limits

Wednesday, June 15th, 2022

LAW & DISORDER: Performing Arts Division June 16, 2022 INSIDE THIS ISSUE » Backlogs at US Consulates « » New USCIS forms « » Contract Entirety Clauses « » Board Term Limits « Current USCIS Service Center Processing Times: Vermont Service Center: Standard processing: 4 – 8 weeks Premium processing: 9 – 10 days California […]

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IN-PERSON APPOINTMENT WAIVERS NOW AVAILABLE FOR O AND P VISAS

Tuesday, January 4th, 2022

By Brian Taylor Goldstein Happy New Year! Let’s hope the 2021 we wanted finally comes in 2022, Perhaps you were as surprised as I to wake up Christmas morning to discover that the U.S. Department of State had left an actual gift in our stockings. Not too much, and not too expensive, but it’s the […]

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THE NIE WALL TO COME DOWN …and more good news!

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021

By Brian Taylor Goldstein It’s so rare that I get to share anything positive in the world of artist visas that I still find myself wondering if I have inadvertently fallen through the matrix into someplace where it is not 2021. The White House announced today (Monday, September 20, 2021) that in “early November” it […]

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USCIS Has Officially Raised Premium Processing to $2500 EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 19, 2020… and an update on National Interest Waivers while we’re at it.

Friday, October 16th, 2020

The Screaming Demon Pumpkin and his festering goblins of anal carbuncles JUST announced TODAY that it was raising the premium processing fee from $1440 to $2500 effective this Monday, October 19, 2020. Any petitions postmarked after October 19, 2020 will be returned if they do not have the higher fee. Whilst I expect this to […]

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TODAY’S USCIS FORECAST: A Storm of Travel Ban Issues with a Cold Blast of COVID-based RFEs, and a Looming Furlough-Nado!

Saturday, August 22nd, 2020

I. Consulates Are Open, But Now Refusing To Issue Visas To Applicants Who Have Been In Certain Countries For artists who have been approved for visas, but have been waiting months to apply for them at a U.S. Consulate, many U.S. Consulates have re-opened and are beginning to issue visas. But not so fast…there continues […]

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…And They’re Not Done Yet! USCIS Has Just Imposed New Filing Fees and Forms!

Saturday, August 1st, 2020

On July 31, 2020, DHS (The Department of Homeland (In)Security) issued a “Final Rule” confirming that USCIS (Unconscionable, Shameful, Callous, Immoral, and Sinister) will be imposing steep fee increases for visa petitions as well as creating new forms. Assuming that the many lawsuits and injunctions that are already in the works don’t stop this, then […]

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Trump Punishes Students For Taking On-Line Classes

Tuesday, July 7th, 2020

Last night, July 6, 2020, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that all F-1 (student) visa holders attending schools that have decided to operate entirely on-line for the fall 2020 semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic will not be permitted to take a full online course load and remain in the U.S., forcing schools and […]

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WE ALL NEED TO STREAM SOMETIME

Monday, June 15th, 2020

(Understanding Streaming Rights) As we all try to figure out how to cobble the performing arts world together, more and more venues, presenters, and artists are turning to streaming–live streams, virtual performances, and showing archived footage of previously recorded concerts. For now, these efforts are critical as a means to stay connected with audiences. Soon, […]

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