Page 38 - Reggae Festival Guide Magazine 2018

Reggae and Visas

for Work in the United States

– A Reality Check

By lloyd stanbury
T he U.S. music market is the largest in The laws of America require foreign artists and

the world, with live music revenues entertainers who intend to work in the U.S. to

apply through the office of the United States
more than triple, and recorded
music revenues almost double, the

guest artists must normally obtain one of the
revenues of any other country. I often hear Citizenship and Immigration Services. Foreign
the suggestion that foreign reggae artists who following types of work visas:

represent Rastafari should look to other markets to • O-1 or O-2 Visas for Individuals with

travel and work as performers, because the U.S. Extraordinary Ability or Achievement;

music industry is representative of the “Babylon • P-1B Visa for a Member of an Internationally

System.” There may, however, be additional Recognized Entertainment Group;

reasons encouraging foreign reggae artists
to look to other markets for employment. • P-2 Visa for an Individual Performer or Part

The economic and political dynamics of the of a Group Entering to Perform Under a

American reggae festival scene make the above Reciprocal Exchange Program; or

statements even more interesting. • P-3 Visa for an Artist or Entertainer Coming

Over the past 10 years, the reggae festival circuit to be Part of a Culturally Unique Program.

in the U.S. has grown with the emergence of Each of these temporary work visas is appropriate

several new and successful events. Reggae in different situations and filing for the wrong

On The Mountain was started in Topanga, type of visa can significantly delay an entertainer’s
CA, in 2009, California Roots was started in entrance into the country.

Monterey, CA, in 2010, Reggae Rise Up in St. Despite a long tradition of live performances
Petersburg, FL, in 2015 and the Marley Brothers and touring in the U.S. by Jamaican and other

staged the first Kaya Fest in Miami in 2017. foreign reggae artists, some performers,

Along with older events such as Reggae on artist managers, booking agents and event

the River (now run by High Times Media), the promoters remain unaware when it comes to

Sierra Nevada World Music Festival and the compliance with the law that governs foreign

Austin Reggae Festival, the U.S. market is entertainment workers. In order to secure a U.S.

clearly demonstrating increased demand for work visa, performers must be able to qualify
live reggae performers. under one of the four categories mentioned.

38 Reggae Festival guide 2018