In a recent discussion with Andrew McKaysmith on the Scars And Guitars podcast, Primal Fear bassist Mat Sinner, spoke about why many international artists are backing out of U.S. tours due to the difficult and costly visa process. Sinner, who is also the band’s producer and a primary songwriter, did not hold back in his assessment.
“I hope that the so-called leaders, which are sometimes close to criminals, or are, get their shit together and give us a chance for a peaceful future,” he said.
He went on to explain the growing frustrations for his band. “Look at Primal Fear — everybody’s asking, ‘Why don’t you come to America?’ We played seven tours in America [in the past]. It was never a problem. All is cool. So now you hear reports that a lot of European bands, even that had working visas, were not allowed to enter the U.S. The immigration said ‘no’. So all the costs you have, like lawyers, visa, social security, flights, paying the first rate for the bus, and all these things, how can you risk it to ruin a band without not having the proof that you can enter the country and play a tour? And this is so ridiculous. So, of course, if a fan from Texas writes, ‘Why don’t you come to Texas?’ Yeah. Sorry, guy. It’s not our problem. It’s your problem.” (as transcribed by blabbermouth.net)
When McKaysmith pointed out that it is “essential” for a band like Primal Fear to play in the United States because of its importance as a heavy metal market, Sinner disagreed: “Not essential under these circumstances. So, sorry, but I give a fuck. If the situation is that difficult and not clear that, for example, a German band invests a lot of money before they come to America and then didn’t allow to get into the country and do the tour because of some — whatever — circumstances they don’t like this or whatever, so this is just, for me, not the right way. An American band can come to Germany — they don’t need a visa, they don’t need nothing, they can play their concerts, they make the money, they go back to America. No problem. With us, for example, [they] said about the next football world championship [FIFA World Cup, which will be held in 2026] in America, yeah, the people can come, but they have to leave immediately. Yeah, what the fuck? So is that a welcome for the world? No — no, no, no, no, no. I don’t like it. And I’m sorry for all our fans, and we have a lot of fans — we’re selling the second most albums in the world in America. So I’m sorry for all the fans, but under these circumstances, it’s financially too risky for us. I hope the time will change.”
For artists wanting to perform in the U.S., P and O visas are required. The P visa applies to touring performers and can last the length of a tour or up to a year. The O visa, including the highly sought-after O-1B, is designed for individuals recognized for extraordinary ability in the arts or notable achievement in film and television.
Costs for these visas have risen sharply. What once cost $460 per application now often exceeds $1,615, with overall expenses climbing to $3,000 or more per artist if expedited services or legal assistance are included. While the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) claims these higher fees will support operational improvements, immigration lawyers argue the opposite — that processing times have only become slower. This has made planning U.S. tours increasingly difficult, particularly for smaller acts unable to absorb the financial burden.
