P2 Visa

The P-2 visa category allows artists and entertainers, coming individually or as a group, to engage and participate in reciprocal exchange programs between a U.S. organization and an organization in another country.

Currently, there are 5 reciprocal agreements that are approved by the U.S. government for the P-2 visa program:

• The American Federation of Musicians (U.S.) and the American Federation of Musicians (Canada);
• Actor’s Equity Association (U.S.) and the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association;
• Actor’s Equity Association (U.S.) and the British Actors’ Equity Association;
• The International Council of Air Shows and the Canadian Air Show Association.
• The Alliance of Canadian Cinema Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) and the Screen Actor Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

If the P-2 petition is submitted with a reciprocal agreement between any other organization(s), USCIS must review if the agreement abides by regulatory standards. Additionally, the applicants must have skills that are comparable to the U.S. performers/entertainers who are going outside the U.S. as part of the program.

Some of the key features of a recognized Reciprocal Exchange Programs include:

1. Government-recognized organization or national-level organizations
2. Evidence that similar skill levels are maintained between the U.S. and the artists from abroad
3. There are comparable employment periods between U.S. performers and performers from abroad

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On P-2 visa, you may:

1. Enter the U.S. and perform for payment or prize money
2. Engage in part time study
3. Apply for visas for accompanying essential support personnel
4. Apply for P-4 visas for dependents

The limitations of P-2 visa are:

1. You may work for multiple employers, however, each employer must file a separate Form I-129
2. P-2 programs must be reciprocal in nature
3. Dependents are allowed to stay in the U.S. with you, but may not work

P-2 status can be granted for up 1 years but is restricted to the duration of time needed to complete the event(s) or activities. P-2 status can be extended in increments of 1 year, indefinitely.

Yes, you may apply for extension of stay on P-2 artist exchange visa. Extensions may be authorized in increments of one year for P-2 exchange program performers to continue or complete the same event or activity for which you were admitted.

Yes, you may engage in study while in P-2 status as long as it is incidental to your P-2 activities.

No, there are no travel restrictions on a P-2 visa. You may travel outside the U.S. and reenter as many times during the validity period of the P-3 petition as long as you have a valid P-2 visa. If you are Canadian, you may travel outside and reenter the U.S. as long as you have a valid P-2 approval notice.

The petition filed by the employer must include:

1. Written consultation by an appropriate labor organization
2. A copy of the formal reciprocal exchange agreement between the U.S. organization or organizations which sponsor the foreign nationals and an organization or organizations in a foreign country which will receive the U.S. artist or entertainers
3. A statement from the sponsoring organization describing the reciprocal exchange of U.S. artists or entertainers as it relates to the specific petition for which P-2 classification is being sought
4. Evidence that an appropriate labor organization in the U.S. was involved in negotiating, or has concurred with, the reciprocal exchange of U.S. and foreign artists or entertainers
5. Evidence that the foreign nationals for whom P-2 classification is being sought and the U.S. artists or entertainers subject to the reciprocal exchange agreement are artists or entertainers with comparable skills, and that the terms and conditions of employment are similar

The P-2 petition for support personnel can be filed in conjunction with the petition for the principal P-2. Essential support personnel can be stagehands, trainers, managers and other individuals who are deemed critical or essential to the event and/or performances. The petition for support personal must be filed with a:

1. Written consultation with a labor organization in the skill in which the alien will be involved
2. Statement describing the alien’s prior and current essentiality, critical skills and experience with the principal alien(s)
3. Copy of any written contract between the employer and the alien or a summary of the terms of the oral agreement under which the alien will be employed

Yes, you may apply for P-4 visa for your spouse and unmarried children below 21 years.

No, your dependents may not work on P-4 visa. They may not be employed or receive compensation from any U.S. source

Yes, your dependents may engage in full time study on P-4 visa.

Yes, you may apply for adjustment of status and lawfully seek to become a permanent resident of the U.S.

Note: This provision does not include essential support personnel.