USCIS
Application Procedures for the Disney Visa - Cultural
Exchange Q Visa
Participants
in what is commonly referred to as the Disney Visa;
International cultural exchange program designed to
provide practical training, employment and sharing
of the participant's native culture, require classification
Q visas. An extremely good example of those eligible
for this Visa are those interested in obtaining a
job with Walt Disney World or Walt Disney Land in
the United States; this is why the Q visa is currently
referred to as the Disney Visa.
Pre-Requisites
for the Q Visa (Disney Visa):
The training/employment must be approved in advance
by the office of the U.S. Citizenship and US immigration
Services in the United States on the basis of a petition,
form I-129Q, filed by the U.S. sponsor. A new petition
for the Q visa (Disney Visa) must be filed each time
a qualified employer wants to bring additional persons
into the United States in Q status.
Application
Procedures:
Before filing a petition
for a Q visa (Disney Visa) to USCIS, the following
criteria must be met:
- (1) The culture-sharing must
take place in a school, museum, business, park,
or other establishment where the public is exposed
to aspects of a foreign culture as part of a structured
program;
- (2) The cultural component
must be an essential and integral part of the
participant's employment and training, and must
be designed to exhibit the attitude, customs,
history, heritage, philosophy and/or tradition
of the alien's country of nationality; and
- (3) The alien's employment
and training may not be independent of the cultural
component.
The organization
must demonstrate that it has the ability to conduct
a responsible international cultural exchange program
and has the financial ability to remunerate the participant
with the Q Visa (Disney Visa-holder)and offer him/her
wages and working conditions comparable to those accorded
local domestic workers similarly employed.
The Disney
Visa applicant must be at least 18 years of age, qualified
to perform the stated service or labor or receive
the specified type of training and have the ability
to communicate effectively about his/her culture.
Duration
of Stay with Q visa- Disney Visa:
A Q visa (Disney Visa)
petition is approved for the length of the program,
or for fifteen months, whichever is shorter. The holder
of a Q visa who has spent fifteen months in the United
States may not be issued a visa or be readmitted under
the Q visa (Disney visa) classification unless he/she
has resided and been physically present outside the
United States for one year.
Examples
of Use of the Q Visa (Disney Visa):
This Visa is perfect
for individuals entering the United States for a job
or seasonal internship in any of the parks or establishment
of Walt Disney World (Florida) or Walt Disney Land
(California). This visa is also available for individuals
entering the United States to work in a specific conference,
convention, or project related to their country.
ExamplesBenefits
to Family Members
As for Spouses, Children
& Partners of the Disney Visa applicant, there is
no derivative visa category for spouses and children
of the beneficiary of a Q petition. Spouses and/or
children who wish to accompany the Q visa (Disney
Visa)holder to the United States for the duration
of the program are required to qualify for visas in
their own right.
If they wish
to work, they require
work visas; ; if they wish to study,
student visas. Those who have no intention of
working or studying, may apply for
tourist (B-2) visa.
NOTE: When
applying for a B-2 visa just as when applying for
a Q visa- Disney Visa, applicants will be required
to furnish evidence to show that they have a residence
abroad to which they intend returning at the end of
their stay in the United States. This is generally
established by evidence of family, professional, property,
employment or other ties and commitments to some country
other than the United States sufficient to cause the
applicant to return there at the conclusion of his/her
stay in the United States. If the spouse and/or child
of the Q visa- Disney Visa applicant will not apply
for visas at the same time as the principal applicant,
they will be required to furnish a copy of the principal
applicant's visa with their application.
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