Now is the right time to become an American Federation of Musicians member. From ragtime to rap, from the early phonograph to today's digital recordings, the AFM has been there for its members. And now there are more benefits available to AFM members than ever before, including a multi-million dollar pension fund, excellent contract protection, instrument and travelers insurance, work referral programs and access to licensed booking agents to keep you working.
As an AFM member, you are part of a membership of more than 80,000 musicians. Experience has proven that collective activity on behalf of individuals with similar interests is the most effective way to achieve a goal. The AFM can negotiate agreements and administer contracts, procure valuable benefits and achieve legislative goals. A single musician has no such power.
The AFM has a proud history of managing change rather than being victimized by it. We find strength in adversity, and when the going gets tough, we get creative - all on your behalf.
Like the industry, the AFM is also changing and evolving, and its policies and programs will move in new directions dictated by its members. As a member, you will determine these directions through your interest and involvement. Your membership card will be your key to participation in governing your union, keeping it responsive to your needs and enabling it to serve you better. To become a member now, visit www.afm.org/join.
March 17, 2017
IM -Foreigners seeking H-1B visas for temporary jobs in the US with high-tech companies will now undergo a longer process according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which announced that H-1B “premium processing” will be suspended for up to six months. H-1B non-immigrant visas allow US companies to employ graduate-level workers in some specialized fields—information technology, medicine, engineering, mathematics, and more. USCIS says that petitioners can still request expedited consideration but it will only be allowed under certain criteria.