FAQS
Members of the Entertainment Profession, Athletes, & Artists
- I'm an amateur hockey player asked to join a professional U.S. team for a try out. What type of visa do I require?
You will qualify for a B-1 visa provided you have signed only a memorandum of agreement with a National Hockey League-parent team and not a professional contract and you will receive only incidental expenses. When applying for the visa you will be required to furnish a copy of the memorandum of agreement and a letter from the NHL team giving the details of the tryouts. If the agreement is not available, a letter from the NHL team giving the details of the tryouts and stating that such a try out has been agreed must accompany the application.
- We are a professional theatre group performing at an international festival in the U.S. What type of visa do we require?
Unless the company is participating in a cultural program sponsored by the sending country; or participating in a competition for which there is no remuneration, other than a prize (monetary or otherwise) and expenses, O or P visas are required.
- I'm a disc jockey who is contracted to perform in the U.S.; what type of visa do I require?
You require an O visa.
- We are musician who are recording in the United States, what type of visa do we require?
A B-1 visa, or visa free travel is appropriate if you will utilize recording facilities for recording purposes only; the recording will be distributed and sold only outside the United States; and, there will be no public performances.
We are a choir who has been invited to perform in the United States. What type of visa do we require?
If you are all amateurs and you will be performing in a social and/or charitable context, you will require B-2 visa, or if eligible may travel visa free under the visa waiver program. However, if you will be performing to a paying audience, you require P visas. If you are professional musicians, or the group includes a mixture of profession and amateur musicians, you will require P visas.
Do you still have a question?
Please e-mail us at stknivinfo@state.gov. Please include a telephone number in your mail. Your question will be answered within two business days.
You can also fax us at +46 (8) 660 5879 (please enclose reply e-mail address) or write to:
Nonimmigrant Visa Unit
Embassy of the United States of America
Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 31
SE- 115 89 Stockholm Sweden
You can also call us on +46 (8) 783 5469. Our telephone hours are Monday through Thursday from 1 PM to 2 PM. We are not open on Swedish and American holidays.