Need US Visa-Related Legal Assistance? TamizdatAVAIL Can Help!
TamizdatAVAIL is a new initiative that can be of benefit to CIMA members and affiliates who are having trouble with the US visa process, and who require free legal assistance.
TamizdatAVAIL is also collecting data on resolved visa problems which is crucial to their trend analysis and advocacy efforts, so they're encouraging the reporting of past problems via their website. CIMA members can keep them posted about any USCIS or Department of State problems that they encounter, even if they don’t need help, by informing us through this form on our website.
Tamizdat is excited to announce the launch of a groundbreaking initiative:
Tamizdat Artist Visa Assistance & Information Line (“TamizdatAVAIL”)
AVAIL is a non-profit pro bono legal hotline. It serves the international performing arts community by providing free information and advice on foreign artist visa-related issues. Our legal staff assists performing arts professionals who are experiencing problems with the U.S. government during the visa process, after the filing of an I-129 petition.
AVAIL is here to help. If you are encountering a problem during the application process for O or P visas, contact us for immediate assistance.
AVAIL hotline number: +1 (718) 541.3641
AVAIL hotline email: avail@tamizdat.org
AVAIL website: www.tamizdat.org/avail
AVAIL is also a research and advocacy initiative. We are here to solve crises, but we are also working to find long term solutions to systemic problems in the performing artist visa process. Toward this end, we collect and analyze data on visa-related issues encountered at USCIS and the Department of State. The findings are published in AVAIL Dispatch, a monthly newsletter which will shed light on processing issues and provide relevant government agencies with information about their strengths and weaknesses, with the intent to facilitate better training and best practices.
AVAIL wants to hear your stories. Even if you don’t need our help, if you are an arts or immigration professional with information on a problem case, please tell us about it! Gathering case data helps us identify and analyze trends. You can tell us about your experiences here: http://www.tamizdat.org/avail/tellyourstory.html.
AVAIL is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, and operated in cooperation New York Law School and leading arts advocacy organizations. TamizdatAVAIL seeks to serve arts professionals who are not members of a national service organization that provides its members with assistance in this area. The service is intended to supplement the resources provided in the excellent website, www.artistsfromabroad.org.
Contact us if you need help or have case information for our research and advocacy, and spread the word about AVAIL!
For more information, contact leslie@tamizdat.org.