Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre currently employs 34 company dancers who step and leap and strut regularly in shows ranging from “The Nutcracker” to “Dracula.”
Seven of those dancers arrived from outside the U.S. on artist visas. In the past, the processing fee for a single visa was about $460, which the company covered. Under a new Department of Homeland Security proposal, that fee would increase by more than 250%, to $1,615, upping the company’s visa costs by more than $8,000.
“This would affect the vibrancy of the arts in general and the vibrancy of our company,” said Kathryn Gigler, acting executive director of the ballet. “It’s essential to be able to present the best of what the world has to offer.”
And that’s just the full-time company dancers. The ballet also regularly brings over internationally acclaimed choreographers, just as the Pittsburgh Opera invites singers and directors from overseas and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra invites conductors and instrumental soloists.
These and other local arts organizations are gearing up to fight the proposed increase with arts institutions across the U.S., arguing that such a drastic increase would threaten these companies’ ability to invite top-tier overseas talent.
For background, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of Homeland Security branch that processes overseas visas, in January proposed a massive increase in the cost of international visas for certain categories. That included those for artists arriving through O and P visas — two classifications that cover extraordinary individuals working in the sciences, arts, education, business, athletic or entertainment sectors.
USCIS, which receives more than 90% of its funding from processing fees, took a significant financial hit during the pandemic, when visa applications plummeted. The department has faced staffing shortages and severe backlogs as applications rose again.
To compensate, USCIS has proposed adjustments to its processing service that include steep increases in the cost of business-related visas and either holding steady or decreasing the cost of humanitarian visas, such as asylum-related claims.
The fee increase could up revenue to $6.4 billion a year from about $4.5 billion. Its total budget for the year is $5.9 billion.
The adjustments could also lengthen the amount of time it takes to process an “expedited” visa, which costs significantly more. That would shift to 15 business days from 15 calendar days.
“This absolutely impacts our ability to stage international choreographers’ work,” Ms. Gigler said of the proposed fee hikes.
“Pittsburgh Opera doesn’t necessarily pin decisions on visa fees, but we’d have to take this into account if it went into effect,” said Robert Boldin, director of artistic operations at Pittsburgh Opera.
He recalled several singers and conductors and even lighting designers who had been brought over on a visa in recent years.
The process can already take months and often requires multiple rounds of petitions. Plus, international performers must visit a consulate in their home country to complete the process.
“We bring people on a case-by-case basis,” Mr. Boldin continued. “Of course there are incredible American artists, but engaging with international artists can enhance the company’s connection to this global art form.”
The changes are not yet set in stone.
The DHS is accepting public comment through the Federal Register portal until March 6.
Organizations are expected to argue that for-profit businesses and sectors are better equipped to handle such an increase than nonprofit arts operations.
In the U.S., arts organizations often belong to national “service” organizations. For dance companies, it’s Dance/USA. For opera companies it’s Opera America. For orchestras, it’s the League of American Orchestras.
All of these organizations have dedicated lobbyists and advocacy personnel who have mobilized to try to reduce or eliminate the proposed increase.
“Many artists that come to the United States are on tours or visiting several orchestras and arrange for a multi-entry visa through their U.S. agency,” said Mary Persin, the Pittsburgh Symphony’s vice president of artistic planning.
The orchestra regularly engages soloists on visas, and a symphony spokesperson said the PSO supports the league’s efforts. The ballet and opera likewise are supporting their respective service organizations.
“This will make some companies think twice about their ability to use the budget,” added the Pittsburgh Opera’s Mr. Boldin. “What they’re proposing now will be prohibitive for many companies.”
Jeremy Reynolds: jreynolds@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1634; Twitter @Reynolds_PG. His work at the Post-Gazette is supported in part by a grant from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Getty Foundation and Rubin Institute.
First Published: February 19, 2023, 11:00 a.m.
Updated: February 19, 2023, 1:03 p.m.
