The P2 visa checklist below provides a general idea of what is usually needed for artists, performers, or entertainment groups under a Reciprocal Exchange Program to obtain their P2 work visa. To have a better understanding of this list, please read the P2 visa overview for the details on the requirements and documents of the P2 visa.
Please click to download the P2 visa checklist for workers under an artistic reciprocal exchange program.
The P2 visa is for artists and entertainers who will be working (individually or as part of a group) under a reciprocal exchange program between certain U.S. and foreign organizations. There are 5 active reciprocal exchange programs currently.
Alternatives to the P2 Visa Petition
There are four main alternatives to the P2 visa petition (Artists Reciprocal Program): (1) the P3 visa for foreign artists who will be working (individually or as part of a group) under a culturally unique program, (2) the P1B visa petition for foreign artists who are performing as a part of an internationally recognized entertainment group, (3) the O1B visa petition for individual foreign artists who have extraordinary ability in the arts (i.e., the artist usually has national or international recognition), or (4) the O1B MPTV visa petition for individual foreign artists who have extraordinary achievements in the motion picture (movie) and television industry. Fashion models can file for the H1B3 visa petition.
Another possible alternative to filing a P2 visa petition would be to file for a green card petition which is a permanent immigrant visa and not a temporary work visa like the P2 visa. For more on green cards gained through work, please read the overview for employment-based green cards.
If you have a P2 work visa (Artists Reciprocal Exchange Program) immigration question, please fill out our contact us form or send us an email with some basic information about your background and your immigration needs. We will do our best to respond within 48 hours.
How we can help?
Kylie Huang Law’s immigration attorney will help identify whether the P2 visa is the appropriate nonimmigrant visa category for the client’s (or the client’s beneficiary’s) professional background and if there are other visa options for the client (or the client’s beneficiary). We will work closely with our client to prepare a convincing case for their (or it’s) P2 visa petition and we will also strategize on how the P2 visa petition should be presented to achieve the best chances of approval. It is strongly advised and common practice to retain an immigration attorney for a P2 work visa petition due to the complexities in the immigration process and visa requirements.
What does the typical process look like to retain (hire) us?
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- Fill out the form (with some basic information on what your immigration needs are)
- Sign up and log into the client portal to schedule an appointment online
- Attend scheduled appointment (typically a phone call or zoom meeting)
- Retainment (signing a contract to hire us)
- Start processing case
- Gathering required documents
- Preparing paperwork
- Confirming contents of documents that will be submitted
- Filing the case
- Following up on the status of the case
- Close the case when a final determination is issued
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- b.
- c.
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- Fill out the form (on what your immigration needs are)
- Sign up and log into the client portal to schedule an appointment
- Attend scheduled appointment (typically a phone call or zoom)
- Retainment (signing a contract to hire us)
- Start processing case
- Gathering required documents
- Preparing paperwork
- Confirming contents of documents that will be submitted
- Filing the case
- Following up on the status of the case
- Close the case when a final determination is issued
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- Step 2:
- Step 3:
- Step 4:
- Step 5:
- a.
- b.
- c.
- Step 6:
- Step 7:
- Step 8:
- Fill out the form (on what your immigration needs are)
- Sign up and log into the client portal to schedule appointment
- Attend scheduled appointment (typically a phone call or zoom)
- Retainment (hire us)
- Start processing case
- Gathering required documents
- Preparing paperwork
- Confirming content of documents that will be submitted
- Filing the case
- Following up on the case status
- Close the case when a final determination is issued
RELATED ARTICLES
- P2 Visa (Artist Reciprocal Exchange Program)
- P visa Overview (Athlete & Entertainer)
- P1A Visa Checklist (Athlete)
- P1A Visa (Internationally Recognized Athlete)
- P visa Overview (Athlete & Entertainer)
- P1B Visa (Member of Internationally Recognized Entertainment Group)
- P1B Visa Requirement & Documents
- P1B Visa Checklist (Entertainment Group)
- P3 Visa (Artist Culturally Unique Program)
- P3 Visa Checklist (Culturally Unique Program)
- P1S/P2S/P3S Visa (Essential Support Personnel)
- P1S/P2S/P3S Visa Checklist (Support Staff)
- O Visa Overview (Extraordinary Ability / Achievement)
- O1A Visa (Extraordinary Ability in Science, Education, Business, Athletics)
- O-1B Visa (Extraordinary Ability in Arts & Extraordinary Achievements in Motion Pictures or Television)
- O2 Visa (Essential Support Personnel)
- H Visa Overview
- H1B Visa (Specialty Occupations)
- L Visa Overview (Intra-company Transferee)
- R1 Visa (Religious Worker)
- E Visa Overview (Treaty Trader & Investor)
- TN Visa (NAFTA Professionals)
- Employment-Based Green Card Overview (LPR)