Crossing the Border The AFM Way

Music knows no borders, but Canadian musicians traveling to perform in the U.S. and U.S. musicians going the other way can get held up by red tape. Local 1000 helps its members through the border-crossing maze for tours and single engagements. Here are the basics.

FROM CANADA TO THE U.S.

If you are a Canadian wishing to perform in the U.S., you will need to apply for a P2 visa. Since September 11, 2001, the application process has tended to bog down, often taking 120 to 150 days; so it’s best to apply as early as possible.There is an accelerated 15-day approval process, but it includes a fee of $1000US; and since all applications are subject to security checks, a 15-day turnaround is not guaranteed. The only way to expedite this process is with the assistance of a U.S. congressperson.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly INS) charges a flat fee of $185US for each P2 application, whether you are a soloist or a ten-piece band. (A band must submit a form for each member, but together they are considered one application.) If you plan to enter the United States several times, you can make one multiple entry application, providing the gigs are no more than a month apart.

Note: For gigs within 50 miles of the border, special exemptions may apply. Ask your employer to check with USCIS.

1. Start by obtaining an application form from the Canadian Office of the AFM. (See contact information below.) They will fax the form if you are in a hurry. Bands will need a form for each member (you can photocopy the blank form). The form requires the following information:

• Full name, address, citizenship, date and place of birth and social insurance number

• Photocopy of current AFM membership card or other evidence of AFM membership

• Date and first point of entry into the U.S., and date of return to Canada

Your documents will be sent to the point of entry you specify. That is the only place you will be able to cross the border.

On the back of the application form, the AFM Canadian office asks you to sign a waiver to release them from liability in the case of unavoidable delays in processing. There are no guarantees in immigration applications, but experienced border crossers will tell you that problems are rare, providing you get your application in early enough.

2. Mail the following materials to the AFM Canadian office:

• Completed application form
• Proof of AFM membership
• Copies of signed contracts with U.S. employers
• Money order or banker’s draft, payable to U.S. Immigration, for $185US
•Cheque for $15CAD, payable to AFM Canada (for courier and administration costs)

Send to: American Federation of Musicians
Canadian Office
75 The Donway West, Suite 1010
Don Mills ON M3C 2E9

Phone: 416-391-5161 or 1-800-INFO-FED (Canada only) Fax: 416-391-5165

3. You will receive by mail, a P-2 petition to present at the border. This is not a visa and does not guarantee entry. However, unless you have previously been denied entry, have a criminal record, or have been inordinately rude to a U.S. immigration officer, the petition process is usually a formality. Some border crossings charge a processing fee of $6US per person, so be sure to have U.S. funds with you for this purpose.

Always carry your passport, and remember to hand in your exit stub to Immigration Canada when you leave the U.S.

Note: This information is for guidance only. Always check with the AFM Canadian office before you begin the application process.

FROM THE U.S. TO CANADA

U.S. musicians wishing to work in Canada must obtain a Temporary Employment Authorization (IMM-1102). The procedure is similar to the P2 application process for Canadians, with applications also submitted through the AFM Canadian Office (See contact information above).

The Canadian government requires an administrative fee of $150CAD for a single musician and $450CAD for a band of 2 to 14 members, provided they enter the country as one unit. (Note, however, that it makes sense for a duo to make two solo applications for a total of $300.) Applications must also be made for technical personnel traveling with a band.

As with the P2, the IMM-1102 can allow for multiple entries into Canada, so more than one gig within a reasonable time period can be covered by one application and fee. Check with the AFM Canadian Office for details.

Canadian Office contact:

Lidia McGeown, Artist Immigration, lmcgeown@afm.org

American Federation of Musicians
Canadian Office
75 The Donway West, Suite 1010
Don Mills ON M3C 2E9 CANADA

For questions other than visa assistance: afmcan@afm.org or afmcan@ican.net
Phone: 416-391-5161 or 1-800-INFO-FED (Canada only)
Fax: 416-391-5165