On April 1, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) instituted an enormous improve to the price of a visa for international artists within the nation that would have a significant affect on the Okay-Pop touring business.
Before this date, the fee for an artist from exterior of the U.S. to use to carry out within the nation was $460 USD. And for artists who’ve filed this paperwork earlier than April 1, that also stands. However, transferring ahead, the appliance will now value a whopping $1,615-$1,655 USD per individual — a rise of over 250%.
That implies that the price of, say, a seven-member group comparable to BTS has gone up from $3,220 USD to $11,305-$11,585 USD, and that’s only for the members alone. Each particular person workers member comparable to stylists, managers, bodyguards, and backup dancers additionally has to submit and get an software accredited, shortly including up the toll.
Additionally, if an artist has to get expedited processing for his or her software so it doesn’t take months to get approve, there’s an added $2,805 charge per software. And if, for some purpose, an artist’s software isn’t accepted, there isn’t a refund.
There are two causes for such a sudden and large hike within the visa charge. The first is that there was imagined to be a smaller improve a number of years in the past, as previous to 2016, there was a charge improve each 4 years to maintain up with inflation. Due to a block by a federal choose in 2019, nonetheless, this didn’t occur, after which the COVID pandemic occurred, which means that the charge has remained the identical since 2016. The different purpose is that the appliance course of itself has turn out to be rather more sophisticated and time-consuming: While the purposes had been solely 2-3 pages lengthy a pair a long time in the past, they now might be nearer to twenty.
And these are simply the varieties earlier than supporting proof. Now I’m submitting paperwork which might be 200 pages, 300 pages lengthy simply to elucidate why this band needs to be touring all through the United States.
— Castro of BAL Sports and Entertainment Practice
So what does this imply for Okay-Pop artists? While a charge comparable to this seemingly received’t have a big impact on the most important names within the business, will probably be rather more tough for artists from small labels to have the ability to afford a U.S. tour. Some of those artists might need to skip the United States totally and concentrate on different nations as a way to lower your expenses, which in flip damages the richness and variety of the music business.
You’re going to see a lower in worldwide acts coming to the United States. And possibly it’s decreased frequency greater than a lower within the absolute quantity. We’ll see much less and fewer rising artists. The tougher you make it for them to return to the United States, the much less you’re going to see them right here. It’s not simply the mid-sized venue in Cleveland that can really feel it, however the parking zone down the road, the eating places and bars individuals go to earlier than and after.
— Castro of BAL Sports and Entertainment Practice
Some artists would possibly find yourself having longer excursions within the U.S. to make up for the price of their visas, whereas others may attempt to make use of extra U.S.-based workers comparable to backup dancers and stylists as a way to restrict the variety of purposes wanted.
Understandably, Okay-Pop followers have plenty of considerations about this modification and the way it would possibly affect the artists which might be in a position to afford to tour within the United States transferring ahead.
One commenter did share some additional perception about why such an enormous improve was carried out, although it’s little consolation to followers and artists who must deal with the implications of the change.
We’ll have to attend and see simply how a lot this does find yourself impacting the Okay-Pop music tradition that has been rising steadily within the U.S.
Share This Post
Source: www.koreaboo.com