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Non-Immigrant Visas

Professional Entertainers

If you are a professional entertainer or athlete who is traveling to the United States to perform, you must have a temporary worker visa (P or O visa), regardless of whether or not you will be paid for the performance. A professional entertainer is defined as someone whose primary source of income and livelihood comes from work as an athelet,  musician, singer, actor or other type of performing artist. If you are a professional seeking to perform in the United States, your U.S. sponsor or employer must file a temporary worker's petition (form I-129) with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Your sponsor may obtain information about filing the I-129 petition from the DHS office in the area where you will perform.

If DHS approves the petition, you will be sent a Notice of Action (Form I-797). Once you have your Form I-797, you may apply for your visa at the Embassy.

For a list of required application forms and supporting documents, please click here.

All applicants must apply in person, by appointment.

In certain specific circumstances, professional entertainers may be issued a visitor visa (B-1 visa) instead of a temporary worker's visa. No petition is required for the issuance of a B-1 visa. You may receive a B-1 visa as a professional entertainer ONLY if you meet all of the criteria in one of the following:

  1. You are traveling to the United States to participate in a cultural program sponsored by your government; you will be performing before a non-paying audience; and all expenses, including per diem, will be paid by your government.
  2. You are coming to the U.S. to participate in a competition for which there is no remuneration other than a prize and expenses.
  3. You are coming to the U.S. to utilize recording facilities for recording purposes only; the recording will be distributed and sold only outside of the U.S.; and no public performances will be given.

Amateur Entertainers

If you are an amateur performer, you may travel to the U.S. with a visitor visa (B-2 visa) only if you will not be paid for your performance. During your interview at the U.S. Embassy in Athens, you must establish through tax records, job letters, IKA books, and other documentation that you earn your living in an occupation other that that of entertainer and that you intend to return to Greece at the end of a temporary visit to the U.S.