United States•North America14-56 days
6,105 USD
1 year
Yes
Required
Allowed
No
Not Required
Artists or entertainers performing under a culturally unique program — folk, traditional, or ethnic arts.
The P-3 is a US visa for artists and entertainers performing, teaching, or coaching in a culturally unique program tied to a specific country, ethnicity, religion, or cultural group. It covers folk, traditional, and ethnic arts that fall outside the fame standard of P-1 or the extraordinary-ability bar of O-1.
Initial stay is up to 1 year, renewable in 1-year increments with no overall cap or annual quota. One I-129 petition can cover a group of up to 25. Fees include I-129 ($1,015 / $510 small or nonprofit), Asylum Program Fee ($600/$300/$0), and $205 MRV. P-4 dependents cannot work, and there is no PR pathway.
This visa is ideal for folk, traditional, or ethnic-art performers with a US sponsor and a specific culturally unique program to share.
I-129 filing fee (regular employer) | 1,015 USD |
Asylum Program Fee (regular employer) | 600 USD |
I-129 filing fee (small employer ≤25 FTE) | 510 USD |
Asylum Program Fee (small employer) | 300 USD |
I-129 filing fee (nonprofit) | 510 USD |
MRV/DS-160 visa application fee | 205 USD |
Premium processing (I-907) | 2,965 USD |
| Standard | 2 weeks – 2 months |
| Premium Processing | 2 weeks – 3 weeks |
| Initial grant | 1 year |
Must come to perform, teach, coach, or represent a culturally unique or traditional ethnic, folk, cultural, musical, theatrical, or artistic program
Program must further the understanding or development of the art form
Art form must be culturally unique — tied to a specific country, ethnicity, religion, or cultural group
Must possess the necessary skills and experience for the specific program
Cannot self-petition; a US employer, agent, or sponsoring organization must file on your behalf
A specific performance engagement or program must already exist
Essential support personnel (coaches, technical crew) may qualify if their role is critical and cannot be filled by US workers
No requirement for international renown — cultural uniqueness of the art form is the primary standard
Job Offer
Required
Education
none or higher
Written advisory opinion/consultation from a relevant labor organization (e.g., AGMA, AFM, SAG-AFTRA, or other appropriate union/guild)
Employment contract or written description of an oral agreement between artist and sponsoring organization
Event explanation and itinerary (dates, venues, nature of performances)
Evidence of cultural uniqueness of the program (press reviews, expert affidavit letters, cultural/ethnological documentation, promotional materials)
Documentation of the artist's skills and experience relevant to the culturally unique program
For support personnel: evidence of critical skills not available from US workers
Valid passport (for consular stage)
USCIS I-797 approval notice (for consular stage)
| I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker | Fill online |
| I-907 Request for Premium Processing Service | Fill online |
| DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application | Fill online |
| I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status | Fill online |
| Application Steps | US sponsor files Form I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker) with USCIS along with all supporting … | uscis.gov |
| Dependent Visa | P-4 | uscis.gov |
| Fee Breakdown | I-129 filing fee (regular employer): 1015 USD; Asylum Program Fee (regular employer): 600 USD; I-129… | uscis.gov |
| Fees | Form I-129 base filing fee ($1,015 standard / $510 small employer/nonprofit) + Asylum Program Fee ($… | uscis.gov |
| Forms | Form I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker — filed by US sponsor); Form I-907 (Request for Premium… | uscis.gov |
| Forms · DS-160 · description | Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application | travel.state.gov |
| Forms · I-129 · description | Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker | uscis.gov |
| Forms · I-539 · description | Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status | uscis.gov |
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