To: Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA-12)
Let International Artists Perform in the US
It is virtually impossible for indie theater artists from another country to perform legally in the United States. The immigration policy for artists is unduly restrictive, does not protect the security of the US, and impedes international cultural exchange. Let’s create a policy where theater artists legally in the United States have the right to perform for up to 30 days in a calendar year.
Why is this important?
We attempted to get a visa for Canadian theater artists to come to the United States to perform their award winning disability theater play "Crippled." Even with the support of Actors' Equity Association, the Canada Council on the Arts, academics and professors in the field, disability activists, and theater practitioners we were denied by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. You can read their denial letter at http://www.theexit.org/uscis-denial-ltr-2-2-2019.pdf . US immigration policy for artists, as interpreted by USCIS, is unduly restrictive, does not protect the security of the US, and impedes international cultural exchanges. This petition seeks to create a clear and limited policy that would allow theater and other performing artists, who already have the legal right to be in the United States, to perform for a limited period of time.