A proposal by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to dramatically increase fees for processing visas would hurt local art organizations and their ability to attract and keep diverse artists. It should be rejected.
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, for example, would have to pay an additional $8,000 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), under the Department of Homeland Security, to keep members of its company working. Pittsburgh Ballet has seven dancers on artist visas.
USCIS receives 90% of its funding from processing fees. Visa applications plummeted during the pandemic, leaving the agency scrambling to reverse revenue losses.
Under the new proposal, the fee for artists who arrive from outside the country will increase more than 250%. Higher visa fees will hit arts organizations hard; they’re already fighting for every dollar in their budgets.
For arts organizations like the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the increase in fees will have a serious impact on not only their budgets, but also their ability to attract diverse performers. Kathryn Gigler, acting executive director of PBT, said organizations like the ballet must be able to “present the best of what the world has to offer.”
The federal government should reject the plan to raise processing fees. USCIS should have a budget independent of visa processing fees. A staffing shortage and decrease in pandemic applications should not burden arts organizations around the country.
The Department of Homeland Security receives more than $110 billion in federal funding; it should be able to fund operating expenses for USCIS to make up an estimated $2 billion shortfall. Processing visas is a critical task that should be disentangled from the number of applicants.
The fee hike could increase revenue for USCIS to $6.4 billion a year, up from about $4.5 billion, at the expense of hundreds of local arts organizations nationwide. “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.
“We bring people on a case-by-case basis,” he said. “Of course, there are incredible American artists, but engaging with international artists can enhance the company’s connection to this global art form.”
Whether applying for a “P” visa for temporary work, or an “O” visa that covers long-term engagements, artists from abroad must secure permission from Homeland Security before they’re able to sing, dance, paint or read for the entertainment of others in this country.
The DHS is accepting public comment through the Federal Register portal until March 6.
First Published: February 25, 2023, 11:00 a.m.
