P-3 Visa Service

The P-3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows “culturally unique” artists and entertainers to travel to the U.S. for temporary positions as performers, teachers, or coaches.

The P-3 work visa allows you to stay in the U.S. for a time period to complete the performance or task for which you are allowed, but may not surpass one year. P-3 holders are allowed an additional stay of 12-month increments based on following Form I-129 petitions filed by employers.

Education is paramount to the exchange of ideas and beliefs between nations. The P-3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows “culturally unique” artists and entertainers to travel to the U.S. for temporary positions as performers, teachers, or coaches. P-3 work visa allows you to stay in the U.S. for a time period to complete the performance or task for which you are allowed, but may not surpass one year. P-3 holders are allowed an additional stay of 12-month increments based on following Form I-129 petitions filed by employers. Applicants can renew the P-3 visa status without any departure from the country.

Eligibility

For a P-3 visa, you are required to prove that:

• Your purpose for coming to the U.S. as an individual or as a group may include coaching or teaching, developing, interpreting, representing, a unique or traditional ethnic, folk, cultural, theatrical, musical, or artistic performance.

• Your participation must cover a cultural event or events which will further the understanding or development of your art form. The event may be commercial or non-commercial.

• You perform vital support services for a P-3 artist or entertainer, which cannot be performed by U.S. workers.

• You have achieved national or international acknowledgement or acclaim in the culturally unique program you shall perform.

• In addition, the applicant must be sponsored by a U.S. employer, organization, or agent for their participation in the event(s) in the U.S.

Application Procedure

Your U.S. employer or sponsoring organization must submit Form I-129, Petition for a Non-Immigrant Worker. A petitioner acting as an agent, who will be filing the petition for multiple employers, must be properly authorized to act as an agent. See the memorandum: “Requirements for Agents and Sponsors Filing as Petitioners for the O and P Visa Classifications.”

Documentation

Either the sponsoring organization or the U.S. employer must file the P-3 visa application. P-3 applicants may be asked to provide the following:

• A letter from the labor organization

• Letters regarding the culturally unique individual’s skills and talents

• Articles and reviews in respected newspapers, journals, and magazines that prove the event will be culturally unique

• Proof that “all of the performances or presentations will be culturally unique events” (USCIS)

• A copy of the contract between the petitioner and the beneficiary or a summary of the terms of an oral agreement

• Affidavits, testimonials, or letters from recognized experts attesting to your or your group’s skills in performing, presenting, coaching, or teaching the unique and traditional art forms, including the expert’s credentials

• If the performance happens in different areas, an outline of dates and locations must be presented

Family Status

Your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 may obtain P-4 status. Your dependents may not engage in employment but may attend school or college (USCIS).

Personnel Support

Essential personnel support who are part of the performance of a P-3 artist or entertainer and who perform support services that cannot be readily performed by a U.S. worker are eligible for P-3 classification. Personnel support may include coaches, trainers, scouts, team officials, and referees.

The U.S. employer must file a separate Form I-129 for personnel support. The petition must include:

• A written consultation from an appropriate labor organization

• A statement describing the support person’s prior and current essential, critical skills and experience with the P-3 artist or entertainer (USCIS)

• A copy of a written contract between the employer and the support person, or a summary of the oral agreement terms under which the support person will be employed (USCIS)

Source: www.uscis.gov