In Wednesday’s (4/9) Rolling Stone, Alex Ashley writes, “Over the past several months, multiple international artists have withdrawn from U.S. tours or showcases, citing political volatility, visa uncertainty, and concerns over border treatment. The cancellations span genres and geographies—from indie singer-songwriters to renowned classical performers—many of whom had already secured the necessary paperwork before ultimately backing out. The reasons echo a shared unease: fear of being detained, denied entry, or caught in bureaucratic limbo…. Even before Trump returned to power … the U.S. had become one of the most expensive, paperwork-heavy, inflexible, and unpredictable countries for touring artists to enter…. Under the Biden administration … the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services introduced an increase in visa fees for the first time in nearly a decade, raising the cost from $460 to over $1,615 per application … Countries like Canada, the U.K., Mexico, and much of the EU offer short-term performance visas with minimal red tape and modest fees…. The U.S. isn’t fading from the world stage; it’s just making itself harder to get to…. The desire for cultural exchange hasn’t gone away. What’s needed now is a system willing to meet that desire halfway. Because in the end, a nation that closes its borders to art isn’t just keeping others out—it’s shutting itself in.”
