IMPORTANT P2 VISA UPDATES

In recent weeks the CFM has been notified that one of the service centers responsible for adjudicating member petitions has been experiencing vast processing delays – quoting “up to 6-months”. Thankfully, the other service center which adjudicates member petitions is still processing within about the 90-day time frame. The problem lies in that the CFM does not exercise any control as to which centre processes P2 applications – as all applications are initially sent to a “clearing centre” in Texas, before being assigned to a specific processing centre.

In light of this, the CFM has updated their website to recommend 185 days for standard processing U.S. Work Permits :: Canadian Federation of Musicians (afm.org). Although not every P2 application will fall into the potential 185-day processing vortex, the CFM must advise on a worse-case scenario.

CFM staff are diligently contacting all members with petitions in process that their P2 visa may not be issued on time and to consider premium processing or rescheduling performance dates where possible.

TMA is advising all members who do not have a 185 day window before their first gig, that they may still file but to be prepared for the possibility that the premium fee ($2,805 USD) may be required, and if so, the CFM office will notify them within about 35 days thereafter.

CFM has been working with our Creative Entertainment Industries lobby group to address this issue directly with the U S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). USCIS has not delivered on its promise that the recent fee increase would improve processing times and administrative practices – to date, they have failed on both fronts.

For inquiries specific to an application already in process, please email immigration@afm.org and CFM staff will respond as quickly as possible. For any other questions specific to the content of this notice, please direct those inquiries to Liana White: lwhite@afm.org.

For up-to-date information please visit the link: U.S. Work Permits :: Canadian Federation of Musicians