Dance/USA offers pre-petition peer consultation letters to both members and non-members.  Peer consultation letters are an optional addition to visa petitions.  However, peer consultation letters offer valuable support for foreign artists and support staff of extraordinary ability.  For more information on peer consultation letters, please visit the Artists From Abroad website.

Peer consultation letters are offered as a free benefit to Dance/USA members when the member is serving as the petitioner or beneficiary.  To learn more about Dance/USA membership benefits, please visit our Membership Department.

To request a Peer Consultation Letter from Dance/USA, please submit the following:

1. A copy of the I-129 Form

2. A copy of the visa petition’s cover letter stating:

• Name of the contact person at your company
• Artist's name (and, if different, the name stated on the USCIS petition)
• Title of the production
• Artist's function or role in the dance
• Name and/or address of the USCIS service center to which the letter should be addressed

3. A bio or resume outlining:

• Any awards or honors won by the artist
• A list of companies or cities in which the artist has performed
• Roles the artist has performed
• Any recordings, television appearances or other areas in which the artist is in demand
• Information regarding training, particularly for young artists
• In some cases, it may be necessary to state why this particular artist is crucial to your company's production (e.g., a lighting designer who works exclusively with your stage director)
• Include critical reviews documenting recent public performances by the artist.  If reviews are unavailable, include evidence of how the artist is regarded in the press or by colleagues or employers.  (If the reviews are foreign, include translations for both Dance/USA and USCIS)

Note:  If this is a rush visa petition requiring immediate attention, the normal lead time is one week. We suggest that rush requests include your overnight courier account number, your delivery address and your phone number for prompt delivery.  We are also glad to fax a copy of the consultation letter to your attention for review.

Please e-mail, mail or fax copies of materials — not your originals — to the attention of:

 

Government Affairs Director

Dance/USA

1111 16th Street, NW

Suite 300

Washington, DC 20036

Fax:  202-833-2686

 

Questions?  Please do not hesitate to contact our Government Affairs Director, at advocacy@danceusa.org.