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P3 Visa Requirements
Entertainers and culturally unique artists can come to the United States using a P3 Visa. The P3 Visa allows these artists engage in representing, teaching, or coaching in cultural, musical, folk, ethnic artistic or theatrical arts. With the P3 Visa you can enter the USA as an individual or a group and participate in activities that involve entertainment. The presentation, performance or teaching of that art form may be commercial or noncommercial in nature.
That means that the Visa holder can be paid for their performance, coaching, and teaching of that musical, folk or cultural art. The level of expertise for the entertainer or artist must be of a level comparable to U.S. based performers. You will need a qualified immigration lawyer that has experience with P3 Visas to guide you on how to meet the requirements for that Visa.
Requirements For A P3 Visa
You can only get a P3 Visa if you meet the following requirements:
- A government, educational or cultural organization must sponsor your P3 Visa
- You can only get the Visa if you are invited to participate in an event, performance or presentation of music and other art forms
- P3 Visa is only for culturally traditional, unique, folk or ethnic art forms
- You will need to present testimonials, letters, media reviews or newspaper articles and so on that prove that your cultural or traditional art form is unique
- You must present evidence in the form of letters, testimonials or newspaper articles that prove that you or your group has artistic skills
P3 Visa Application Process
Your employer or the government organization that is inviting you to the United States must petition for a non-immigrant worker Visa by filing Form-129 with the USCIS. The USCIS will take 2 weeks for premium processing of your application or 4 months without premium processing. Premium processing will cost you a fee amount of $1,410. However, if you pay the fee and get no response within 15 days, the USCIS will return the money to you and continue to process the petition under the expedited process.
If the P3 Visa application is approved, you as the person seeking to enter the US may apply for the P3 Visa at an American Consulate Overseas. An immigration attorney will help you will prepare the application and you will have to be interviewed by a US consular officer. Before the interview, the attorney will brief you on the type of questions you are likely to be asked during the P3 interview, so that you can relax during the actual interview.
Benefits of P3 Visa
The benefits of the P3 Visa include:
- You as the P3 Visa holder, your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 will be able to live legally in the United States. The spouse and children will get a P4 Visa.
- You will be able to do entertainment and art related work in the United States
- Your children will be able to attend both public and private schools, and Universities in the United States without a Student Visa
- You can get a US driver’s license and Social Security Number if you have a P3 Visa