International cultural engagement fuels creativity, supports diplomacy, and enriches artistic offerings in the United States and abroad. Navigating the process of obtaining nonimmigrant visas and understanding U.S. tax regulations can be challenging, but with the right information and careful planning, you can successfully present artists from abroad to American audiences.
The League of American Orchestras and Association of Performing Arts Professionals (formerly the Association for Performing Arts Presenters) have consulted with nationally-recognized experts to create Artists from Abroad - the most complete and up-to-date online resource for foreign guest artists, their managers, and performing arts organizations. Immigration attorney Jonathan Ginsburg and tax expert Robyn Guilliams have authored indispensable guidance featured on this site, and we provide the forms and web links you need to steer through the process of engaging guest artists reliably, efficiently, and lawfully.
Whether you are a novice or veteran of the immigration and tax process, reviewing the site in its entirety, and referring back as we update the materials, will pay dividends. Changes will be made regularly to reflect new rules and procedural changes at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of State, and Internal Revenue Service.
The site is searchable - or feel free to save or print the text as a resource! The site's contents are available in a complete PDF version. Also, if you have an RSS reader, add our News page to stay on top of any changes in policy or processing trends as we learn about them. We hope you find this site helpful when presenting international guest artists.
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This guide covers much but it cannot cover everything! The information contained within the following pages is not legal advice. For specific advice on a specific matter, contact a qualified immigration attorney.