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US Visa Fee Increase as of October

New ruling from US Department of Homeland Security imposes steep increase to O and P visa filing fees.

Published: 02 September 2020 | 12:00 AM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:31 PM
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The MU has learned today that increases in excess of 50% on O and P visa filing fees are to become effective from 2 October 2020.

The MU are dissapointed to learn that these fees are yet again set to rise. Despite petitioning from US not-for-profit organisations US DHS have finalised these increases in the filing fees:

  • O visa petitions will increase 53% from $460 to $705.
  • P Visa petitions will increase 51% from $460 to $695.

These increases are per petition and both require new forms: O Visa Form I-1290 and P Visa Form I-129MISC.

The premium processing time which up to now has been 15 calendar days increases to 15 federal working days.

Dave Webster, MU NationalOrganiser, Live Performance, says: "It's hard enough for musicians to work in the US as it is - these increases make it even harder."

For more details visit Artists from Abroad website.

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