ACCESS/ENTRY DENIED to USA for Robeson performer.

Urgent update, 21 August. Pittsburgh and Atlanta performances cancelled.

Greetings,

I am sorry to be emailing so soon after a recent newsletter, but I regret the need to inform everybody that my scheduled trip to the US to perform Call Mr. Robeson in Pittsburgh (Aug 28) and Atlanta (Aug 31) has now had to be abandoned. My visa application, though first submitted in May, has been frustrated time and again by bureaucracy, and it is now clear that the visa will not be ready in time. Despite the fact that I have been granted this special visa on numerous occasions in the past, it was not to be this time - not for now, anyway.

Below is a small selection of notices from the system. It includes AI-generated text, and sometimes something from a “real person,” although humanity or personality was hardly ever evident.

“The fee you submitted with your petition was incorrect. Please refer to the Fee Schedule, Form……… to determine the correct fees.”

“You are receiving this notice because US Citizenship and Immigration Services requires additional evidence to process your form. Please provide the evidence requested below.”

“Our records do not indicate that you, Tayo Aluko, are authorized for access to information related to this case. Title 8 Code of Federal Regulations 103.2(a)(3) and the Privacy Act of 1974 prohibit release of information to persons other than the petitioner, applicant or legal representative identified on Form G-28. Please have the petitioner or attorney of record contact us directly for information regarding the petition.”

“Please note that we do not accept RFE responses via email. Please follow the instructions on the RFE to submit your response properly.”

“Enter your online access code and date of birth.”

“No, we cannot help you with that.”

It could be worse: I could be trying to get there from Latin America or Palestine. In my case, one door closes, another opens…

Apologies to all concerned: those who invited me, my friend and comrade who put in a lot of hard work to submit the application on my behalf, those who may have bought tickets, those who informed friends and family.

Do consider supporting the events anyway: North America Festival of Wales and Atlanta Black Theatre Festival, and let’s hope I’ll be back for the next one of each.

Be well.

Tayo Aluko