Maintaining P-3 Compliance

P-3 duration
P-3 extensions
Changes to P-3 employment/event
Travel abroad and reentry to the U.S.
Reporting new home addresses to USCIS
Dual intent

P-3 duration

An initial period of up to one year of P-3 status can be granted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) through a UH-filed petition. Subsequent P-3 extensions of up to one year at a time can be requested thereafter as long as the employment or events are ongoing. There is no regulatory limit on the number of extensions that are possible, but P-3 status is intended for temporary periods.

Period of authorized stay

It is extremely important to be aware of the period of authorized stay on each person’s Form I-94 record or admission stamp, as applicable. If the Form I-94/admission stamp expiration date will occur before the artist/group resigns or the P-3 authorization expires and UH has not filed a P-3 extension petition with USCIS, the artist’s legal status will end on the Form I-94/admission stamp date. As a result, the person must leave the U.S. on or before this date to avoid accruing unlawful presence.

Departments must notify an Immigration Specialist before an artist/group ends P-3 sponsorship at UH.

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P-3 extensions

The UH sponsoring unit must submit a P-3 extension request packet to FSIS no later than two months prior to the requested P-3 start date, which must be back-to-back with the current P-3 expiration date. The current P-3 end date will be stated on each person’s P-3 approval notice or Form I-94, as applicable. Submission of a late request may result in a P-3 beneficiary’s continuation date or even the loss of legal immigration status in the U.S.

Follow these procedures to extend P-3 authorization:

1. The department prepares a P-3 request.

  • UH can request up to one year on P-3 extension petitions.
  • UH can submit a petition to USCIS up to one year prior to the P-3 extension start date.
  • Consult with FSIS if any on the petition is planning to travel abroad while the P-3 petition is pending.
  • The department needs to ask the P-3 artist/group about any family members who may require a P-4 change of status or extension. If so, include the family’s documents in the P-3 request packet.
  • If P-3S support personnel will also need extensions, include their documents in the P-3 request packet as well. A separate extension petition must be filed for them.

2. FSIS receives the request and start processing the petition as long as the requirements are met.

3. FSIS emails the P-3 petition filing fee amounts and USCIS mailing address options to the HR specialist.

The college/school/department or beneficiary (as appropriate) may provide the filing fee checks, indicating that the checks be returned to the unit. The unit then hand-delivers the checks and one of the following types of mailing labels to FSIS as soon as possible:

  • Pre-paid FedEx mailing label;
  • Pre-paid USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate mailing label; or
  • Two mail bar code labels for mailing by USPS Certified Mail (Mānoa units only).

4. FSIS mails the petition with the filing fees to USCIS.

5. USCIS reviews the petition and renders a decision. If approved, USCIS will issue a Form I-797A or I-797B approval notice.

  • If Form I-797A: Employment can continue uninterrupted.
  • If Form I-797B: The employee must follow the P-3 entry procedures to “activate” the authorization.

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Changes to P-3 employment/event

Unless an agent filed the initial P-3 petition on behalf of multiple sponsors, P-3 authorization is specific to the sponsor that filed the petition and covers only the particular events/employment for which the petition was filed. This means that UH must report and receive authorization to make substantial changes to a P-3 artist’s/group’s job or events before the changes become effective. Please contact an Immigration Specialist to discuss whether an amendment petition should be filed with USCIS.

Follow these procedures to make changes to P-3 events/employment:

1. The department prepares a P-3 request.

  • When reporting a change to USCIS, UH may request an extension of up to one year at a time.
  • UH can submit a petition to USCIS up to one year prior to the P-3 petition’s start date.
  • Consult with FSIS if anyone on the petition is planning to travel abroad while the P-3 petition is pending.
  • The department needs to ask the P-3 artist/group about any family members who may require a P-4 change of status or extension. If so, include the family’s documents in the P-3 request packet.
  • If there will be material changes to the petition for P-3S support personnel, include their documents in the P-3 request packet as well. A separate extension petition must be filed for them.

2. FSIS receives the request and start processing the petition as long as the requirements are met.

3. FSIS emails the P-3 petition filing fee amounts and USCIS mailing address options to the HR specialist.

The college/school/department or beneficiary (as appropriate) may provide the filing fee checks, indicating that the checks be returned to the unit. The unit then hand-delivers the checks and one of the following types of mailing labels to FSIS as soon as possible:

  • Pre-paid FedEx mailing label;
  • Pre-paid USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate mailing label; or
  • Two mail bar code labels for mailing by USPS Certified Mail (Mānoa units only).

4. FSIS mails the petition with the filing fees to USCIS.

5. USCIS reviews the petition and renders a decision. If approved, USCIS will issue a Form I-797A or I-797B approval notice.

  • If Form I-797A: Employment can continue uninterrupted.
  • If Form I-797B: The employee must follow the P-3 entry procedures to “activate” the authorization.

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Travel abroad and reentry to the U.S.

If a P-3 artist/group member or P-3S support personnel is planning to travel abroad, UH departments must issue an employment confirmation letter to facilitate reentry to the U.S. To return to the U.S., the artist/group must follow all P-3 entry procedures and send copies of the reentry documents to an Immigration Specialist. If any P-4 dependents travel to other countries, they should follow the P-4 entry procedures.

If an artist or a P-4 dependent is only planning to visit Canada or Mexico for less than 30 days, automatic visa revalidation may be used as an option to reenter the U.S.

Traveling abroad while a P-3/P-3S petition is pending with USCIS

The P-3 artist/group member or P-3S support personnel must be physically in the U.S. at the time a petition is filed. After filing, it is not advisable for beneficiaries to travel abroad while the petition is pending. If the person will need to travel abroad around the time P-3 authorization will expire or be amended, the department should consult with an Immigration Specialist so we can advise on the filing options.

If international travel plans arise at the last minute and the employee cannot avoid traveling while the petition is pending with USCIS, please note the following:

Petition typeInternational travel
Change of P-3 employerIf still working with prior sponsor, the artist may reenter using that sponsor’s approval notice and other documents. If prior sponsorship has ended, they must wait for UH’s petition to be approved and then may reenter with UH approval notice and other documents  — see the P-3 entry process for more details.
Concurrent P-3 employmentIf the petition is still pending on reentry date, the artist may reenter with other sponsor’s approval notice; upon petition approval, participation in UH events is authorized automatically. If the petition has been approved, they must reenter with approval notices and other documents for all sponsors, including UH — see the P-3 entry process for more details.
P-3 amendmentIf the petition is still pending on reentry date, the artist may reenter with prior unexpired UH approval notice and other documents. If the petition has been approved, they may reenter with amendment approval notice and other documents to begin amended event participation — see the P-3 entry process for more details.
P-3 change of statusIf the artist travels abroad while the petition is still pending, change of status will be abandoned. If the artist reenters in prior immigration status, they must depart the U.S., wait for the petition to be approved, and then go through the P-3 entry process to begin P-3 participation. If the petition has been approved, they must use petition approval and other documents to begin P-3 participation — see the P-3 entry process for more details.
P-3 extensionIf the petition is still pending on reentry date, the artist may reenter with prior unexpired UH approval notice and other documents. If documents have expired or if the petition has been approved, they must reenter with extension approval notice (if received) and other documents to continue participation — see the P-3 entry process for more details.

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Reporting new home addresses to USCIS

P-3 artists, P-3S essential support personnel, and P-4 dependents are required to report all changes of residential address to USCIS within 10 days of moving. The easiest way to report any changes is through USCIS‘s online change of address form. If an individual currently has an application pending at a USCIS Service Center, they should also contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center (toll-free number: 1-800-375-5283) to report the change.

Please also email the new address to an Immigration Specialist so we can update our records.

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Dual intent

P-3 artists may have dual intent when applying for a visa or admission into the U.S. Unlike other nonimmigrant classifications (e.g., F-1, J-1), the filing of an immigrant petition or permanent labor certification application on the person’s behalf should not serve as the sole reason for a denial of an P-3 visa or entry to the U.S.

Dual intent is not allowed for P-3S essential support personnel.

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