You probably already know that to qualify for an artist visa, the Immigration Service requires EITHER a Nobel Prize, Academy Award, Emmy, Grammy or Directors Guild Award (which I presume most of you readers have not, kudos if you have!)
I call this affectionately the "Einstein" category.
Just yesterday a client told me about another lawyer who said not to apply for an artist visa since the client hadn't discovered the 'Theory of Relativity'.
I've heard this so many times I've lost count.
But this is only half the story.
Guess nobody told these guys that you can qualify for an artist visa another way. Check out if you have three of these items (listed in the practically unreadable Immigration Statutes):
1. Wide national or international recognition;
2. Articles written by applicant in major publications;
3. Participation as a judge or member of a judging panel;
4. Published articles in major publication;
5. Performance in a lead role in an event that has a distinguished reputation;
6. Proof of financial success;
7. Original artistic contribution of major significance;
8. Receipt of a very high salary; and/or
9. Other similar material.
Let see if I can help you out here. Do you have three of these?
1. Awards, certificates, or prizes from music festivals, musical competitions, city agencies, etc.;
2. Articles you have written that are published in magazines, newspapers or on the internet;
3. Acting as a judge of music competitions (maybe you were on a panel judging students at a university or music school);
4. Articles written about you in any form of press;
5. Band leader status;
6. High yearly income (congratulations if you've got that...);
7. Membership in exclusive music organizations;
8. CD's/DVD's & demos;
9. Flyers or other advertisements of gigs;
10. Radio play;
11. Television appearances;
12. Letters of recommendation written by musicians, owners of venues, organizations, etc.;
13. Performance photos;
14. Teaching experience; and/or
15. Other similar material.
Keep in mind every musician is unique and all your accomplishments must be reviewed as a whole by an attorney who understands music. This type of attorney can tell you if he/she believes you have enough for an approval.
After all, you don't want to lay out all that cash if the case is weak. You want an honest opinion about your chances.
By the way -- don't forget to ask your musician friends what they compiled to get artist visas.
NEXT WEEK: "The Lowdown on Sponsors" and "Not only Metronomes Count Time"
Special thanks to Nadia El-Tatawy for her paintings that are featured on this blog.
See her website (http://www.nadiaeltatawy.com/)
