Programy Akademicko-Kulturalne

If you have been invited to the U.S. to perform, to work on an artistic project, or to exhibit your work, you will need to begin the process of applying for a visa early. In most cases, you do not qualify for a normal tourist visa.

Please check the Consular Information on this website to find out about the types of visas that are available. If you will be working in the U.S., the person or organization inviting you may have to provide you with documents relating to the terms of your work or performance. If you are performing in the U.S., whether for an honorarium or for no fee, you will likely have to receive a petition from the Immigration and Naturalization Service, or an Exchange Visitor Certification from the Department of State. Both of these require action on the part of the people who are inviting you in the U.S. – it is not possible for you to arrange these petitions here. Please point this out to your U.S. colleagues. You will find convenient links to specific information about the forms that you need below.

If you will be arranging your own work in the U.S. (if you are filming a movie, for example), please see our Consular page for information about Business Visas. You may qualify for a Business Visa. Your colleagues may not, however. Certain artistic workers may need Immigration and Naturalization Service petitions in order to work in the U.S., especially if the work that they do is not specialized (i.e., if a U.S. citizen already in the U.S. could just as easily fulfill this function). We recommend that you consult the INS website early. You may also find it helpful to work with an immigration expert in the U.S. who is familiar with the type of work that you are doing. Filmmakers in particular should be aware that many cities and states in the U.S. have liaison offices for working with film and television productions.