Hi everyone
I realize that this is outside of our normal blog posting schedule. However, understandably, there is a growing concern over the recent…and ongoing…computer crash that has resulted in U.S. Consulates around the world being unable to issue visas. This means that even artists who have been issued I-797 approval notices from USCIS are currently unable to get their visas from a U.S. Consulate.
This is a worldwide problem and is not limited to only a few consulates. It is also not limited to O and P visas.
Unfortunately, there are no contingency plans. An approval notice alone cannot substitute for a visa and without the visa, an artist cannot enter the U.S. and perform (even for delayed or no payment.) Until the computer system is fixed, visas cannot be issued.
The U.S. Department of State recently updated its website to say that they did not expect the problem to be solved before next week. Once the system is back up, priority will be given to issuing visas for medical emergencies and humanitarian cases. Sorry, concerts and performances do not qualify as humanitarian cases.
Here is a link to the current update on the U.S. Department of State Website:
http://www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/english/news/technological-systems-issue.html
For additional information, here is a link to information on the website of the U.S. Consulate in London:
Most major U.S. presenters and venues are (or should be) aware of this problem and are making their own contingency plans. Nonetheless, you should advise them of this situation if for no other reason than to make sure that everyone understands that this situation is entirely the fault of the U.S. Department of State and could not have been foreseen. (Step #1 in any crisis: assess blame.)
In the meantime, we are advising everyone to monitor the U.S. Consulate and U.S. State Department websites daily and take the next available appointment. There is no point in contacting the consulate or requesting an emergency appointment. Because this has impacted everyone worldwide, there are no emergency appointments or priority channels available for artists with concert or performance dates.
_________________________________________________________________
For additional information and resources on this and other
legal, project management, and business issues for the performing arts, visit ggartslaw.com
To ask your own question, write to lawanddisorder@musicalamerica.org.
All questions on any topic related to legal, management, and business issues will be welcome. However, please post only general questions or hypotheticals. GG Arts Law reserves the right to alter, edit or, amend questions to focus on specific issues or to avoid names, circumstances, or any information that could be used to identify or embarrass a specific individual or organization. All questions will be posted anonymously and/or posthumously.
__________________________________________________________________
THE OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER:
THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE!
The purpose of this blog is to provide general advice and guidance, not legal advice. Please consult with an attorney familiar with your specific circumstances, facts, challenges, medications, psychiatric disorders, past-lives, karmic debt, and anything else that may impact your situation before drawing any conclusions, deciding upon a course of action, sending a nasty email, filing a lawsuit, or doing anything rash!
Tags: approval notice, state department, travel, uscis, visas