International musicians who wish to perform in the United States can legally do so by obtaining an O or a P visa in advance. The type of work visa a musician must obtain depends on whether the musician will be performing as an individual or as part of an entertainment group.
An individual musician may apply for an O-1, P-2, or a P-3 Visa. The type of visa that the individual musician would apply for depends on the individual and the nature of the work the individual will be engaging in. An O-1 Visa is granted to an individual who possesses extraordinary ability in the arts, a P-2 Visa is granted to an individual who is entering to perform under a reciprocal exchange program, a P-3 Visa is granted to an individual who is coming to be a part of a culturally unique program.
A group of musicians would need to apply for a P-1 Visa. A P-1 Visa is a type of nonimmigrant work visa which permits internationally recognized music groups to perform in the United States.
If you are an international musician and you would like to inquire about which visa would be your best fit, please contact our office for your free consultation. Our phone number is (562) 464-6934. We hope to hear from you soon.