Tightened security is presenting a growing problem that will impact on touring in the world's biggest market, the US. In the UK Artists, managers and all crew will have to apply for a specific visa from the US Embassy in London, involving multiple form filling, extra costs and the requirement for every applicant to visit the Embassy in person, it seems that fingerprints will now be required. In the past visas have of course been required for anybody intending to undertake paid work in the US, but one company, or a representative have been able, often with the assistance of specialist advisors and brokers, to complete the necessary arrangements for a whole party. Also the turnaround time for the paperwork has been reasonable, this will now lengthen considerably, considerably affecting forward planning. This threatens to affect every European musician and various music bodies, such as the UK's British Music Rights, have taken up the issue with the European Commission, citing it as a potential barrier to trade in services.

Events such as SXSW were aware of the tightening up this year, but according to Una Johnson of SXSW Europe the majority of acts applied in good time and their drop out rate was pretty much in line with previous years, although things are set to get a lot tougher. However Una says, "We are sensitive to the situation, not in denial, but also not alarmist. While the stricter security is in place most touring artists will have to learn to deal with it. It is the bottom end, the first timers, the ones with wild ideas and little support and business infrastructure, and those taking a flier early in their careers in the hope of being spotted at SXSW who will get hit."

Ron Zeelens, of RAZcoVisas in New York, who has been securing work permit Visas for the Entertainment Industry for over 25 years has provided a service to many of the European acts that have played at SXSW. Ron has pointed out that many people in the US, and not only in the entertainment business, are worried about the situation. He refers to an article by Rachel L. Swarns in the New York Times, headlined 'Travel Industry Fears New Rules Could Deter Visits to U.S' in which she reports that The Travel Industry Association of America has warned that new security measures intended to prevent terrorists from entering the United States would also quite likely deter foreign tourists' visits. International travellers contribute $88 billion a year to the economy, the travel association said. The number of international travellers has dipped nearly 20 percent since September 11.

According to the article, the rules, to go into effect in coming months, require interviews of nearly all tourists who seek visas, as well as computer-readable passports from Europeans and others who do not need visas to travel to the United States. By January, the government plans to put into effect a rigorous tracking system for foreign visitors, which will include fingerprints and photographs. One main change will affect the 27 countries, mostly in Europe, whose citizens are not required to apply for visas. About two-thirds of foreign tourists are from those countries, and they will be required to produce computer-readable passports starting in October. The travel executives said most British and Japanese visitors already carried such passports. But they said they worried about travellers from France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, who do not routinely carry such passports.

Officials expect the stricter regulations to be instituted in waves over six months. Starting next month, diplomats in embassies and consulates around the world will begin interviewing nearly all tourists who seek visas, a shift that is expected to create significant delays for people hoping to visit the United States. In the past, consular officials had the option of allowing tourists who did not present security risks or seem likely to overstay their visas to apply for visas by mail. Officials say they have slightly increased staffing at some embassies and consulates, but added that they expected diplomats to use their existing resources 'creatively' to cope with the mounting workload.

So it seems that anyone thinking of showcasing at the next SXSW, CMJ or any of the US events had better get moving as early as possible!