All of These Musicians Were Denied U.S. Entry to Perform at South by Southwest

Trementina. Photo: Future Popes

As South by Southwest kicks into full gear in Austin this week, there’s been a gloomy cloud overshadowing the general merriment of the festival: Numerous musicians have been detained (and even deported) trying to make their way to the Texas city, with the confusion stemming from the exact visa needed to perform at the festival. In short, a B-1 or B-2 visitor visa is sometimes used by musicians who enter the country to perform — they’re technically classified as tourists, and they cannot be paid, whether or not tickets are sold for their concerts.

source http://www.omnipopmag.com/2017/03/16/all-of-these-musicians-were-denied-u-s-entry-to-perform-at-south-by-southwest/