French dance company Herve Koubi, slated for the TITAS/UNBOUND 2023–24 season, is affected by the new visa regulations.touring the U.S. has been delayed until next yearU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced early this year that it would increase the fees for P and O visas — the ones touring artists use to travel the U.S.
On paper and out of context, the proposal might make sense. During the COVID-19 pandemic, immigration decreased, the USCIS received less money from fees and staff was laid off. Today, immigration has rebounded, and cases are backed up. The agency needs money, so it will raise fees from temporary, foreign workers to get it.
Though the decision has been delayed, professionals in DFW who work with international artists are still bracing for its anticipated implementation in March 2024 — on top of battling with the system's already present woes in their day-to-day business. “A lot of artists are not making money on their tours until you start selling a lot more tickets,” he says.
Small indie acts aren’t the only people concerned about these changes. TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND is a freestanding presenter that brings international touring companies such as Japan’s Sankai Juku or New York City’s Parsons Dance Company to perform in Dallas. And the issues facing standalone acts trying to perform in the U.S. are only multiplied for entire dance companies.The presenter has already seen hardships in attracting internationally touring acts to Texas.