Office Hours Archive

Panelists:
Dev Sherlock, Director of Music, SXSW (he/him)
Becci Scotcher, Senior Grants and Programmes, Manager PRS Foundation (she/her)
Matthew Covey, Executive Director, Tamizdat (he/him)
Will Spitz, Partner, CoveyLaw (he/him)

Many musicians are considering performing at showcasing events in the US, but this year many are worried about travel: “Do I need a work visa?” “Can I get paid?” “Am I going to get hassled at passport control?” These questions and many more will be answered in this seminar by immigration attorneys Will Spitz and Matthew Covey, who will be joined by SXSW’s Dev Sherlock and Becci Scotcher from the PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading funding organization.

Many people who are traveling to the US are understandably worried about what will happen when they arrive. Am I at risk of heightened scrutiny? Are officials really looking through peoples’ social media? What can you do to be best prepared?

Matthew Covey (executive director, Tamizdat) and JR Strauss (Associate, CoveyLaw) have been following developments in border policy closely, and talk about the real and perceived dangers of arriving in the US, what we know and what we don’t know, and how to best minimize risks.

This latest installment of Office Hours presents a practical breakdown of the process for securing a green card from within the U.S. (called “Adjustment of Status”) with a focus on the statutory requirements and recent agency updates. We’ll cover the brand new USCIS policy memo released May 21st, which has created a lot of confusion, uncertainty and fear. Perfect for anyone considering seeking lawful permanent status or those currently navigating it.

For CoveyLaw and Tamizdat’s April “Office Hours” Session, we are teaming up with Change the Beat, a Non-Profit organization dedicated to empowering electronic music artists, producers, and DJs by providing access to education, mentorship, workshops, and networking opportunities, with a focus on women and underrepresented voices.

Please join Kimya Zahedi, an attorney at CoveyLaw and Sydney Blu, artist and founder of Change The Beat to break down what artists need to know about U.S. visas, immigration processes, and cross-border preparation. Drawing on her work in performing arts immigration, Kimya and Sydney will discuss practical insight into visa preparation, required documentation, and the realities artists should keep in mind when planning U.S. touring activity.

The requirements for O and P visas can be difficult to navigate, and frequent policy changes to how USCIS reviews evidence have only made the process more confusing for applicants and their employers or agents. Attorneys Will Spitz & JR Strauss will help attendees navigate the maze, covering the types of evidence USCIS typically wants to see in O and P petitions, how to organize documentation that is responsive to the regulations, and strategies for generating new evidence to support future filings. They will also discuss common pitfalls and what to avoid when gathering evidence.

Suitable for anyone considering or currently working on an O or P petition and their employers or agents.

In this latest webinar, we give you a practical breakdown of the US naturalization process: from pros and cons, filing periods and eligibility requirements to new policies and common pitfalls that can delay or derail a case. Attorneys Amanda Gupta, Kimberly Xavier and Legal Manager Davina Wells will cover common issues that can arise during the process, the new 2025 civics test, and what happens after a determination is made on your application.

Perfect for anyone considering citizenship or navigating a complex case.

In this webinar, we explore how the Trump administration has issued and proposed a hailstorm of rules that aim to limit travel to the US for people from certain countries or with certain circumstances. CoveyLaw attorneys Kimya Zahedi and Claire Benoit provide an overview of how these rules impact—or might impact—people planning to come to the US. Tamizdat attorney and legal fellow Liz Moller also provides an update regarding advocacy efforts to push back.

In December’s session we’ll be discussing current hot topics and trends around the EB-1 green card for artists/creatives/entertainers and those supporting these industries. Leading this session will be Partner Amanda Gupta and Associate JR Strauss from CoveyLaw’s General Immigration Team. Questions addressed include:

• How do you qualify for the green card of extraordinary ability?
• If you’re on an O-1 now, when is a good time to start the EB-1 process?
• Is it harder to get an EB-1 approved now, under this new administration?
• What are some things to take into consideration before making the decision to go for it?

Navigating the U.S. immigration system is never simple—and for artists of the transgender, gender-nonconforming, and intersex (TGNCI) community seeking to work in the US, the process can present unique challenges and risks. This talk, recorded on November 12th, discusses the specific considerations for TGNCI artists applying for O and P visas and entering the United States.
We cover best practices for visa preparation, documentation, and consular interviews, as well as what to expect when crossing the border. Special attention is also given to issues of privacy, safety, and advocacy for artists who may face additional scrutiny or discrimination.

US artists visas have long been expensive and unpredictable. But now performing artists wishing to tour in the US face unprecedented challenges and expenses.In this, the first of Tamizdat/CoveyLaw’s new series of monthly “Office Hours,” come get the update on
US artist visas:

• Are artists visas being denied for political reasons?
• Are artists being targeted?
• Are they searching social media?
• Is Premium Processing inevitable?
• Is it risky to tour in the US right now?