Policy Roundup: Artist Visas, Giving Trends, Protected Species FAQ, and More

July 9, 2026

In This Issue

• Speaking Up for Artist Visas
• Know Your Bow: Details on U.S. and EU Policies
• Stay Informed As Federal Grant Rules Shift
• New Earnings Test Narrows Student Loans
• Tax Policy’s Links to Latest Giving Trends

Speaking Up for Artist Visas

The need for reliable and affordable U.S. visa procedures is a long-standing concern for orchestras and the wider performing arts sector, and recent delays and increased costs have reached a crisis point. Two new developments:

• The House Appropriations Committee advanced an FY27 funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security with language calling on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to “meet the agency’s statutory obligation to adjudicate I-129 petitions for O and P nonimmigrant visas for extraordinary ability in the arts within 14 days of receiving a petition.” This helpful language follows a bipartisan House request seeking artist visa improvements.
• The League and national advocacy partners have crafted a Statement of Concern describing the economic impact of visa delays and unsustainable costs.

USCIS wait times currently average 12.5 months for O visas and 11.5 months for P visas, forcing artist visas petitioners to pay for Premium Processing at an additional cost of $2,965 per petition. Orchestras are encouraged to make use of the League’s visa services and reach out to our policy team and to share any recent experiences.

Know Your Bow: Details on U.S. and EU Policies

New international policies for travel and trade in bows made from Pernambuco wood are in place as of March 5, 2026 and individual countries are now rolling out detailed guidance for compliance. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published a June 2026 Pernambuco CITES Implementation FAQ and the European Union has released an EU FAQ on Trade in Pernambuco Bows.

While specialized permits are not required for most travel, international sales of bows are subject to new rules. The League continues to update the Know Your Bow guide with helpful resources, will participate in international policy talks later this month, and is available to provide technical help for touring orchestras.

Stay Informed as Federal Grant Rules Shift

As this week marks the second major FY27 National Endowment for the Arts grant deadline, current grantees and applicants alike are keeping pace with related policy developments. The League’s NEA Grants Overview tracks the latest implications of policy changes, what we know about how executive actions affect grantee compliance requirements, and when updates have been made to the NEA’s agency priorities and FAQ pages. On May 29, 2026 the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released proposed rules that will transform how federally funded projects are solicited, managed, and reported. If the proposal is approved, the new Uniform Guidance would go into effect with awards made or amended on or after October 1, 2026 for most federal funding streams. The League is partnering with coalition colleagues to analyze and comment on the proposals and will keep orchestras informed about further action. 

New Earnings Test Narrows Student Loans

U.S. Department of Education rules issued on July 1, 2026 will impose a new earnings test to determine whether an institution of learning can access Federal Direct Student Loans for specific programs of study. The League joined comments in response to the original draft proposal—alongside Chorus America, Dance/USA, OPERA America, and Theatre Communications Group—raising concerns about the disproportionate impact on performing arts programs. Most aspects of the rules are set to go into effect by July 1, 2027. The League’s partners in conservatories are analyzing the full implications for collegiate and graduate arts programs. 

Tax Policy’s Links to Latest Giving Trends

Among the new tax policies that will influence charitable giving, the permanent enactment of the non-itemizer charitable deduction is expected to make giving more accessible and grow the pool of individual donors. Learn more in the League’s resource center on Philanthropic Trends. Advocates can speak up to Congress through our campaign to further expand the non-itemizer deduction and offer new incentives for donors to give from employer-sponsored retirement funds. 

A newly released Giving USA report shows total charitable giving reached $617.20 billion in 2025—representing a 5.7% increase in current dollars (3% adjusted for inflation). The Charitable Giving Coalition, in which the League is a leading member, notes that “While total giving reached a record high, and grew even after adjusting for inflation, we remain concerned that individual giving continues to lag behind broader economic growth.”