Question:
I am a local artist invited to perform at the Miami Carnival celebrations in October 2022. I heard that appointments are only available in 2023. Will I be able to get an expedited visa? Can I use my B1/B2 visa to perform?
Answer:
Congratulations on being invited to showcase your talent in Miami. Entertainers from around the world, including Trinidad and Tobago, must travel to the United States on artist and entertainer visas known as “O” and “P” work visas. These visa categories require a Form I-797 petition to work, perform, and receive income in the United States.
For example, Trinbagonian artists must have a valid O or P work visa to perform at the Miami Carnival, DJ in restaurants or bars, or go on tour promoting new music, even if these performances are free. Free carry is still considered carry and requires an O or P visa.
Petitions are submitted through US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once the petition is approved, the applicant will receive a notice of approval. After receiving notification of approval, an applicant can apply for the appropriate nonimmigrant visa at the US Embassy.
For detailed information about the nonimmigrant visa application process, please visit http://trinidadandtobago.usvisa-info.com.
Nonimmigrant visa applicants are required to complete the DS-160 electronic application form, register for the online service, pay the application fee in person at a local Scotiabank, schedule an appointment, and attend a visa interview .
There is no online payment option to submit the application fee. Applicants are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the information on the DS-160 form. Please be careful with personal and banking information and be wary of potential fraudsters.
A visa applicant may submit a request to expedite the appointment if the selected interview date falls after the proposed date of travel. These requests must be submitted through the online applicant profile. Do not e-mail or call contacts or the embassy to expedite requests as this will only delay the applicant’s case.
While the Consular Section may approve a request for an expedited appointment, the visa process cannot be expedited. If the visa is approved, the passports are returned in seven to ten working days via DHL.
Non-immigrant “B1/B2” visas are generally issued for tourism purposes. In very limited cases, entertainers may use the tourist or B1/B2 visa to participate in cultural programs fully sponsored by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and to a non-paying audience. These situations are extremely rare and will be made known to the applicant. Do not perform in the United States on a B1/B2 visa without express permission.
The Consular Section takes this opportunity to remind potential applicants that work on a B1/B2 visa while in the United States is prohibited. Consequences include revocation of existing visas and future visa refusals.
As a reminder, mobile phones and other electronic devices, bags and liquids are not allowed in the consular reception area. These items must be secured elsewhere prior to the applicant’s arrival as embassy staff do not have the capacity to store prohibited items.
• For more information on the nonimmigrant visa application process, please visit trinidadandtobago.usvisa-info.com.
