Effective October 2, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is raising the filing fees for most visa petitions and applications, which will increase the burden for Canadian comedians who wish to work in the United States.

Read the full announcement here. https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-adjusts-fees-to-help-meet-operational-needs

 

Our friends at Tamizdat, a nonprofit organization that facilitates and advocates for international cultural mobility and exchange, reminds us that “this fee increase is a small part of a much bigger problem: since the early ’90s, when the O and P visa classifications were created, the average effective cost of securing a visa for a foreign artist has increased more than 2000 percent.”

One of the goals of the Canadian Association of Stand-Up Comedians is to apply pressure on the Canadian federal government to assist with labour mobility issues with the United States. Currently, when a Canadian comedian wants to enter the United States to tour and perform, they need to get an 01 visa before they can enter. This process is both time-consuming and costly. American comedians who come to Canada to perform in clubs, theatres or festivals are not required to pay any fees or provide little to no paperwork to Canadian authorities.

CASC is committed to building a strong domestic industry in Canada that promotes local talent and enterprise.

Join CASC today, or renew your membership, to help the cause. CLICK HERE