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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun implementing the "Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds" final rule as of February 24, 2020. Under this rule, USCIS will consider age, health, income, education and skills, and other factors in order to determine whether a non-U.S. citizen "is likely at any time" to become a public charge, and if so, may then deem that person inadmissible to the United States. For visiting artists, this policy change will affect petitions involving an extension of stay or change of status, but all petitioners for foreign guest artists are now required to use the newest edition of the Form I-129 (dated 01/27/20 in the bottom left of the form). More information is available on the Artists From Abroad website.
Also in December, the Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) provision that taxes nonprofits on expenses incurred on employee parking and transportation benefits, enacted with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, was repealed. This change was retroactive, treating the provision as if it never existed. Nonprofits that paid this tax are now entitled to a refund of the taxes paid. Instructions on how to claim a refund may be found on the IRS website: How to Claim a Refund or Credit for UBIT.
Finally, Arts Ready has released this Action Alert, with helpful information, about the Coronavirus: Preparing for Potential Impact of Coronavirus.
Please find the newly posted 2020 National Arts Day Issue Briefs in the Legislative Issues page on our website.
Thank you as always for your support of the arts.
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