Visa Delays Cause NTPS to Miss Three Members on US Tour
The road to stardom is often paved with creative ambition, but for some international artists, it is also entangled in the slow, frustrating machinery of immigration. The New Pornographers are currently navigating this complex terrain, kicking off their fall US tour while grappling with the bureaucratic reality that keeps three essential members from joining the fray.
While the band continues to deliver their music, the group remains a quartet, waiting on visa approvals for Canadian residents Kathryn Calder, John Collins, and Todd Fancey. This delay means that the full force of the group has yet to be unleashed on the American stage.
Bandleader A.C. Newman has opened up about the exasperation of waiting for essential paperwork. Last year, the process for their P2 visas took just five days, but this year, the application, started in February, is still pending. Despite paying a $3,000 fee to expedite the process, Newman noted that such expediting doesn’t guarantee a faster outcome, merely suggesting they might cut through the endless piles of paperwork in the immigration offices.
It is a familiar struggle for musicians attempting to tour the US. Newman, a Vancouver-born frontman with a green card, alongside vocalist Jillette Johnson from Nashville and drummer Josh Wells from Chicago, is actively trying to keep the momentum going. They are finding ways to create and perform as a unit, even while awaiting the official clearances.
This situation reflects a broader challenge faced by international acts. Other artists have been forced to postpone or cancel North American tours due to pending visa approvals, underscoring how immigration delays can derail artistic plans.
The statistics paint a stark picture of the systemic delays: in the single year of 2024–2025, regular processing times for visas had risen by a staggering 97 percent. This reality means that the path for international talent is often fraught with unexpected hurdles.
Yet, despite the bureaucratic roadblocks, the spirit remains unbroken. Newman embraced this reality with an optimistic outlook, reminding everyone that while immigration systems may attempt to crush the flower, they cannot stop the spring. Surrounded by their musical talent and mutual support, the band remains hopeful that the necessary approvals will come soon, allowing them to play their music in full force.
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