We had no support, says JFMAU of advocacy against visa fee increase

When discussions began about the increase in visa fees for entertainers looking to perform in the United States, the Jamaica Federation of Musicians and Affiliates Union (JFMAU) made it very clear it was prepared to advocate against the matter.

However, fast forward several months and a near 250 per cent increase later, the union’s president, Lowell Lawson, says that despite their efforts, they received “no support” locally on the matter.

“Unfortunately, no other music organisation or government ministry in Jamaica supported our stance to avoid this dilemma. As a result, we find ourselves in a challenging situation,” Lawson told The Gleaner.

“It is important to recognise that this issue is not just about Jamaica, but has global implications. The impact will be felt across the entire music industry, particularly for touring artistes,” he added.

What started out as a proposal in 2023, saw the increase of visa fees for foreign acts who are arriving in the US to perform temporarily and who qualify for ‘P’ and ‘O’ visas from US$460 to US$1,015 and US$460 to US$1,055, respectively. For O petitions filing as a small employer or non-profit, the cost is US$530 and for P petitions, US$510.

According to Lawson, “the consequences of this decision are devastating and will severely impact our music industry, ultimately crippling the earning potential for touring practitioners.”

Responding to questions from The Gleaner, Michael Lavallee, public affairs attaché at the US Embassy in Kingston, explained the process involved in adjust visa fees.

“Separately, the Department of State assesses non-immigrant visa (NIV) application processing fees, which are set based on the actual cost of providing NIV services and are determined after conducting a study of the cost of these services,” he said.

Lavallee went on to explain that the NIV fees for O, P, and other petition-based NIVs were last increased on June 17, 2023, from US$190 to US$205, and added to Lawson’s point that these fee increases are global and not focused on any single country.

According to website of the United States Citizenship and Immigrations Services, the O-1 non-immigrant visa is for the individual who possesses extraordinary abilities or achievements. While, the P-3 classification applies for those going to the US temporarily to perform, teach or coach as artistes or entertainers, individually or as part of a group.

Nevertheless, the increase has not gone over very well in the global entertainment economy.

“There has been a significant public outcry from music unions worldwide, including the American Federation of Musicians, urging authorities to intervene and withdraw the proposal to prevent this detrimental outcome,” Lawson said.

He went on to say that “the JFMAU stood in solidarity with our international community” even though they did not get the local support they were hoping for.

Despite this, however, the entertainment veteran says the work must continue – advocacy will not be stopped.

“It is crucial that we continue to advocate for the preservation and growth of our industry in the face of these challenges. Through the collective efforts of the international union community, we hope to achieve a speedy and effective resolution that benefits all parties involved,” Lawson said.

kenrick.morgan@gleanerjm.com