The new visa fees for foreign artists are out. This is not good(ajournalofmusicalthings.com)
ajournalofmusicalthings.com
The new visa fees for foreign artists are out. This is not good
https://www.ajournalofmusicalthings.com/the-new-visa-fees-for-foreign-artists-are-out-this-is-not-good/
54 comments
To be fair. Canada is stringent about Americans coming over the border and teaching anything, even in a non-professional capacity, without a work visa.
Canada is oddly serious about their border with the US.
Having traveled worldwide, it easily ranks up there with the most unfriendly customs officers.
Maybe that's why Canadians are so nice? All their assholes are employed for border security?
Having traveled worldwide, it easily ranks up there with the most unfriendly customs officers.
Maybe that's why Canadians are so nice? All their assholes are employed for border security?
I drove into Canada with a friend a few years ago. The border agent asked if we had any guns with us; fair, I expect that. I expected she would then ask to search our car, but she didn't. Instead we started getting grilled about which guns we owned at home, how long we owned them, why we owned them. I owned none so my answers were easy but she was asking very pointed questions to my friend who felt compelled to be honest by a suspicious that she had access to some databases and would know if he was lying. After about 30 minutes of this we were allowed to enter, without the car being searched. Utterly bizarre. My best guess is she just felt like harassing somebody.
In my 20s, I had a Kafkaesque interaction at Vancouver customs about whether my visit was for business or pleasure.
I explained that my father was at a conference, and that I was there to both help and be a tourist.
Did not parse with Mr. Papers Please. "Which one is it?" in increasingly aggressive tones.
Finally I just picked one, he gave me my stamp, and I went through.
I explained that my father was at a conference, and that I was there to both help and be a tourist.
Did not parse with Mr. Papers Please. "Which one is it?" in increasingly aggressive tones.
Finally I just picked one, he gave me my stamp, and I went through.
We got extorted out of $300 to cross the border for three days over a just barely over the limit DUI my wife had something like 10 years ago. Funny thing is, neither of us drink now and wouldn’t be driving anyhow, so it would have been impossible for us to drive drunk. Victoria was nice but we won’t be back.
European lad who've traveled to the various places in US and Canada for both business and leisure. Customs officers were never rude or similar to me in Canada, but Miami airport (KMIA) probably had the worst customer facing employees I've ever encountered in an airport, loud, rude and unhelpful. Asked for directions and got told I should learn how to search for information myself...
Miami is something else. I had an officer threaten to deport me because I answered his question "do you have alcohol with you?" with "no, but I have some in my check-in luggage", which was apparently a great show of disrespect. The actual dictatorships and enemy countries I've been to had friendlier welcomes. Baffling.
Canadians are not that nice. - Canadian.
They have to be to preserve their culture. The us population vastly outnumbers them and most of populated Canada is within a couple hours drive from the US. If there wasn't a strong border they'd end up being assimilated quickly.
That's the theory yet we had so much immigration that the pro unfettered immigration prime minister¹ was forced to acknowledge that is a significant factor in the current housing crisis afflicting Canada. The federal accept immigrants faster than the GDP can raise, so the GDP per capita of Canada has shrunk². Yet the immigration minister is on record saying that the solution to temporary immigrants overstaying their visa is to make them permanent residents³.
1- He is a member of the https://centuryinitiative.ca , a group that want to see Canada having a population of 100 millions in 2100. And the only way it's possible is by having unsustainable immigration.
2- https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2024/statc... the latest drop in the previous graph is a consequence of that artificial population growth.
3- https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/temporary-visas-cut-meeting... as if this would help with the housing crisis or the shrinking GDP per capita
1- He is a member of the https://centuryinitiative.ca , a group that want to see Canada having a population of 100 millions in 2100. And the only way it's possible is by having unsustainable immigration.
2- https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2024/statc... the latest drop in the previous graph is a consequence of that artificial population growth.
3- https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/temporary-visas-cut-meeting... as if this would help with the housing crisis or the shrinking GDP per capita
> And the only way it's possible is by having unsustainable immigration.
Shouldn’t have to be. If you raise TFR to 5 it should be completely feasible.
Shouldn’t have to be. If you raise TFR to 5 it should be completely feasible.
At a 1.5% fertility rate [0], what's the alternative?
It's fair to gripe about the effects of immigration, and policies to handle those, but it's disingenuous to gripe about immigration as a policy in a <2+ country.
Demographics is a zero sum game. Either you have a growing population and smooth age brackets or Very Bad Things happen.
[0] https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/CAN/can...
It's fair to gripe about the effects of immigration, and policies to handle those, but it's disingenuous to gripe about immigration as a policy in a <2+ country.
Demographics is a zero sum game. Either you have a growing population and smooth age brackets or Very Bad Things happen.
[0] https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/CAN/can...
Surely this is not a democratic initiative? What the heck is going on with your political system?
>They have to be to preserve their culture. The us population vastly outnumbers them and most of populated Canada is within a couple hours drive from the US. If there wasn't a strong border they'd end up being assimilated quickly.
You seem to be under the impression that hordes of Americans are gathered at the 49th parallel slavering to rush into Canada, and that only Canadian border patrol is preventing Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver from being overrun by Americans. Quite the opposite.
You seem to be under the impression that hordes of Americans are gathered at the 49th parallel slavering to rush into Canada, and that only Canadian border patrol is preventing Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver from being overrun by Americans. Quite the opposite.
it's really not the same
As frustrating as the US visa system is, large numbers of people are still applying for visas which is funding USCIS. Until either the numbers drop, or congress changes how USCIS is funded, I unfortunately think this is not going to change.
I don't think this is quite what's happening here. Overall USCIS is funded by fees, but operates a system in which some kinds of applicants subsidize other kinds of applicants. So, applications for asylum are free to make even though they cost USCIS a lot to adjudicate. To make up for this, USCIS charges extra for applications in other categories, like employment-based visas.
I'm not sure what exactly is happening in this case, but by saying "Because the US can’t seem to get a handle on its borders" the article author seems to be claiming that artist visa fees are subsidizing asylum claim applications.
I'm not sure what exactly is happening in this case, but by saying "Because the US can’t seem to get a handle on its borders" the article author seems to be claiming that artist visa fees are subsidizing asylum claim applications.
As an American, I'm always angry and sort of ashamed when I hear about this sort of thing. I feel like we should be making it easier for people to produce and visit, not more difficult.
Culture is really a slow motion war game. If you can make your films and music popular across the world, that will eventually buy you influence with the people of the world, and that in turn will turn into political influence.
That's part of the reason nearly every country spends taxes to support the arts/music/theatre/film.
By restricting foreign actors, you are restricting foreign countries culture spreading, and giving your own actors/filmmakers/musicians a boost. That in turn will translate into more worldwide cultural influence for your country.
To be honest, I'm really surprised all countries don't ban artists from non allied countries.
That's part of the reason nearly every country spends taxes to support the arts/music/theatre/film.
By restricting foreign actors, you are restricting foreign countries culture spreading, and giving your own actors/filmmakers/musicians a boost. That in turn will translate into more worldwide cultural influence for your country.
To be honest, I'm really surprised all countries don't ban artists from non allied countries.
They're hiking the fees for artists from allied countries as well. ;)
wasn’t it betolt brecht who really pioneered getting state funding of theatre as a way to advance communism (and line his pockets)?
Extremely cynical and reductive look at one of the most meaningful things humans can do in their lifetime.
War eats everything, don’t let it eat your soul.
Edit: also not clear how restricting foreign actors in your country would boost your cultures influence in another country.
I would even argue that giving foreign artists the opportunity to be influenced by your culture, in turn will strengthen your cultures influence outside of it.
Edit: also not clear how restricting foreign actors in your country would boost your cultures influence in another country.
I would even argue that giving foreign artists the opportunity to be influenced by your culture, in turn will strengthen your cultures influence outside of it.
> Extremely cynical and reductive look at one of the most meaningful things humans can do in their lifetime. War eats everything, don’t let it eat your soul.
But it is not really a cynical statement about art. It's a cynical statement about government policy towards the arts.
In the UK, Brexit has done a great deal of slow-motion damage to the prospects of British artists (and the opportunities for British audiences) and it is difficult not to see the government's intransigence towards work travel restrictions for artists as an arts policy rather than just an immigration policy.
But it is not really a cynical statement about art. It's a cynical statement about government policy towards the arts.
In the UK, Brexit has done a great deal of slow-motion damage to the prospects of British artists (and the opportunities for British audiences) and it is difficult not to see the government's intransigence towards work travel restrictions for artists as an arts policy rather than just an immigration policy.
Battling with songs and shows is far better than battling with guns and bombs.
Those who have visited Ukraine will know quite how many free art galleries, sculptures, children's playgrounds etc all had EU, Russia and even USA flags on a little plaque saying "Proudly sponsored by...". The cultural war predated the traditional war by 20+ years. You can see the same cultural war in the '-stan' countries, Georgia , etc today. I
Those who have visited Ukraine will know quite how many free art galleries, sculptures, children's playgrounds etc all had EU, Russia and even USA flags on a little plaque saying "Proudly sponsored by...". The cultural war predated the traditional war by 20+ years. You can see the same cultural war in the '-stan' countries, Georgia , etc today. I
I used to book Japanese bands for FanimeCon/MusicFest (happening today, coincidentally). It’s frustrating for a single event, as the overhead eats into (already meager) revenue. The net result is a high-pass filter where you either have to be bigger than “indie”, go on a multi-show tour, or just eat the loss and do it for the love of the art.
It’s a shame because the cross-cultural connection is very special. Every artist I brought over was floored - sometimes brought to tears - that people from across the Pacific loved their art.
It’s a shame because the cross-cultural connection is very special. Every artist I brought over was floored - sometimes brought to tears - that people from across the Pacific loved their art.
I just saw Dylan at the Bowery Ballroom in New York a few weeks ago. All of her openers were foreign (along with her).
It really makes me wonder if that show would have happened at all.
Why there is so much barrier, I do not understand. And yes, the cost will absolutely be born by customers, at least at these small shows.
It really makes me wonder if that show would have happened at all.
Why there is so much barrier, I do not understand. And yes, the cost will absolutely be born by customers, at least at these small shows.
It seems like some fee is a good thing. Small time venues should hire small time local musicians. We don’t need to import more starving artists, because that pie is sliced pretty thinly already.
How high the barrier should be is debatable, but $1615 seems too high. That’s a ton of money for a large ensemble.
Most egregious to me is the several month waiting time. When we allow anyone and everyone to enter via the southern border, fly them wherever they want to go within the country for free, and provide resources at their destination, that same administration is going to have some elaborate screening process for touring guitar players? What a sick joke.
How high the barrier should be is debatable, but $1615 seems too high. That’s a ton of money for a large ensemble.
Most egregious to me is the several month waiting time. When we allow anyone and everyone to enter via the southern border, fly them wherever they want to go within the country for free, and provide resources at their destination, that same administration is going to have some elaborate screening process for touring guitar players? What a sick joke.
Wow. This is absolute madness. I can’t see how small European bands can possibly afford it.
but, truth to be told, there is little interest or curiosity for small eu acts in the US, just niche stuff.
It affects more than musicians, though.
Same as the Brexit changes relating to this.
Same as the Brexit changes relating to this.
90% of metal tours are foreign bands! This is going to decimate the industry.
The fees are going up, but this article is mostly clickbait.. which is why they likely don't link to anything but their own website.
Pretty much all touring artists will use a P3 visa, or get a waiver.
A P3 visa is going to cost the sponsor $460. The person filling out the application will have to pay $190 (and then another $80 for biometrics if it's their first time)
Pretty much all touring artists will use a P3 visa, or get a waiver.
A P3 visa is going to cost the sponsor $460. The person filling out the application will have to pay $190 (and then another $80 for biometrics if it's their first time)
I go to see a lot of independent and smaller label bands. The show scene has just been getting rougher over the past 15 years or so with rising costs for touring bands and venues, challenges to connect with an audience and get them to show up, Trump-era visa changes, COVID, probably a bunch of other things I’m forgetting, and now this. It’s terrible for fans and is going to ruin a lot of artists and possibly obliterate small venues.
Work visa extension fees has also increased, more than double.
This is the USCIS using visa money to fund its operations, which includes the spike of undocumented/illegal migrants across the border. The entire immigration policy is a complete shit show and both the major parties shoulder the blame for not being flexible enough to make improvements.
This will hit smaller and medium size acts. It is really sad.
This will hit smaller and medium size acts. It is really sad.
I can only surmise the US’ immigration policy and lack of consequences for employers is the way it is specifically to provide for a large contingent of labor that is willing to work for lower prices due to their immigration status. Illegal immigrants’ labor for more physical work, and H1-B labor for more mental work.
I don’t think there is a “policy”. There may have been one in the 1990’s or earlier. It had never been revised. If I’m not mistaken the US is still working off immigration numbers from the early 90’s for employment based green cards.
The republicans and democrats can’t agree on a policy. They use it as flame bait since it is a very emotional topic, especially illegal migrants and H1b abuse. So we are in this situation of a poorly funded agency without consistent guidance for immigration in the 21st century.
The republicans and democrats can’t agree on a policy. They use it as flame bait since it is a very emotional topic, especially illegal migrants and H1b abuse. So we are in this situation of a poorly funded agency without consistent guidance for immigration in the 21st century.
[deleted]
[deleted]
blindriver(2)
FWIW, a lot of countries, including Canada / Australia etc allow artists who perform under a normal tourist visa which is essentially easy and free for much of the Western world. It always amazes me that I can perform in Canada by just flying over but I need to spend $1000+, hand in my passport for a week, go for an interview and wait several months just to do one show in the US.