A persuasive advocate should be up to date on the key issues affecting the opera sector.

Read the latest news on advocacy efforts prepared by OPERA America's senior manager of government affairs and civic practice — and check back for regular updates.

Review the key issues affecting opera and the arts with downloadable briefs prepared by the Cultural Action Group.

Advocacy Updates

Issued November 7, 2025

Effective Immediately: New Filing Addresses for All O and P petitions and Changes to USCIS Fee Payment Options Filing Tips

Last week, USCIS announced filing location changes for a number of visa classifications that use form I-129, which includes O and P petitions. This change is a separate and additional announcement of address change from a prior announcement about regarding filing PPS upgrade requests for pending petitions.

Effective immediately, but with a grace period for petitions postmarked through November 28, 2025, there are new addresses for where to send petitions. Please be very careful to check in each individual instance for the precise location when determining where to send your petition via the USCIS webpage on Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-129. The addresses vary depending on all of the following conditions:

• Classification (O-1B & O-2; P petitions)

• Whether you are filing with or without a concurrent request for Premium Processing Service

• The state in which the petitioner’s primary office is located

• Method of mailing (USPS vs. FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries)

• Form I-907 to a Pending Form I-129 has its own accordion category with its own locations corresponding to state of petitioner’s primary office and method of mailing. 

Also, the American Immigration Lawyers Association recently released filing tips due to the USCIS changes which can be found here. 

Update courtesy of Artists from Abroad

Issued October 29, 2025

OPERA America and Chorus America Visit Congress

On Tuesday, October 21, OPERA America and Chorus America met with the offices of Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE-2), Mike Turner (R-OH-10), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), and Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1). All four are strong supporters of the arts and arts education and champion arts policies in Congress.

It is important that, even during a government shutdown, for congressional representatives to continue to hear from constituents. Please consider contacting your elected officials through their official websites or via OPERA America’s platform.

Issued September 26, 2025

Resource - Tamizdat: Preparing for Immigration Enforcement

In August 2025, Tamizdat produced a webinar with the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) and the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), designed to help performing arts and music venues in the US know how to best prepare for enforcement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.) Following the webinar, Tamizdat has prepared an infosheet Preparing for Immigration Enforcement: Keeping Music and Performing Arts Venues, Staff, Artists and Audiences Safe. This is available for viewing and downloading here.

Key Advocacy Issues

Prepare to take action by reviewing the key issues with downloadable briefs prepared by the Cultural Action Group.