{"id":7485,"date":"2020-11-13T18:35:08","date_gmt":"2020-11-13T18:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanorchestras.org\/?page_id=7485"},"modified":"2021-02-25T03:44:21","modified_gmt":"2021-02-25T03:44:21","slug":"requesting-a-visa-support-letter","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/americanorchestras.org\/learn\/visa-and-tax-for-foreign-guest-artists\/requesting-a-visa-support-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"Requesting a Visa Support Letter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The D.C. office of the League of American Orchestras offers pre-petition peer consultation letters to both member and non-member orchestras.  These letters, and technical assistance regarding the visa process, are an included benefit and are free of charge to organizational members of the League of American Orchestras. Each non-member request for a letter of consultation must be reviewed in advance and, if accepted, will be subject to a $250 processing fee. <\/strong>Peer consultation letters from the League of American Orchestras are sent via email as a PDF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peer consultation letters are an optional addition to visa petitions and do not take the place of the required labor consultation<\/strong><\/a> that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requires from the appropriate labor organization.  Peer consultation letters offer valuable support for O and P artist visa petitions and the League is recognized by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as a qualified organization for the purposes of issuing such letters. For complete information on the visa and withholding process for foreign guest artists, please visit the Artists from Abroad<\/strong><\/a> website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note:<\/strong> The typical turn-around time for League letters of consultation is 5 days or less. If this is a time-sensitive petition, please call the D.C. office at 202 776 0214 or email advocacy@americanorchestras.org<\/a><\/strong> to verify that someone will be available to produce the letter within the desired time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

League Members<\/h2>
\n

To request a letter, please send a complete copy of petition materials (see below) to advocacy@americanorchestras.org<\/strong><\/a> with the subject line \u201cVisa Support Letter.\u201d In the body of your email be sure to confirm that your current League membership status is active, and note that large PDF files may need to be broken into separate parts.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Non-Members<\/h2>
\n

If you would like to become a League member, please contact the Member Services at member@americanorchestras.org<\/a><\/strong>. Otherwise, take note of the following steps: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) Submit a complete copy of petition materials (see below) to advocacy@americanorchestras.org<\/a> for consideration. <\/strong>You will be notified whether or not the League is able to provide a peer consultation letter for your petition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) <\/strong>If your request is approved, you will receive instructions for paying the $250 processing fee per letter. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3)<\/strong> Forward payment confirmation to advocacy@americanorchestras.org<\/strong><\/a> and in 5 days or less, you will receive your letter via email.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
Both Members and Non-Members should send the following to\u00a0advocacy@americanorchestras.org<\/a>:<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
  1. A copy of the I-129 Form and O&P Supplement Form<\/li>
  2. A copy of the visa petition\u2019s cover letter<\/strong><\/a> to USCIS stating: