I feel its important to present evidence on how its actually the Umamusume group that is at fault for this situation.
To get a VISA as an Athlete, artist, or entertainer. You need to fill out the I-129 Form. Processing time usually takes from 13-15 month as you can see "attached photo"
The Umamusume group apparently sent in VISA requests 6 months ago. Which means they didn't even likely do it in time for processing length.
Now there is a Premium processing form called (Form I-907). This form guarantees USCIS action within 15 business days for an additional fee of about $2,965 per petition. This is the required fee as of the March 2026 adjustment.
Now at this time we have no idea if the participants paid for Premium Processing. We however do know they sent it in 6 months ago.
So if we go by the information given, we can assume they didn't do Premium Processing.
Also its worth noting the price as of March is way over 6 months ago. So it wasn't a change to fees after they sent in their application form.
O-1 (extraordinary ability) and P-1/P-3 (athletes, entertainers, culturally unique artists) VISAs were created under the Immigration Act of 1990. They have always involved high evidentiary standards, required consultation with labor unions or peer groups, and been subject to security screening. Complaints about slow, inconsistent, or unpredictable processing date back at least to the early 2000s.
After Post-9/11 and 2000s: Increased security scrutiny lengthened timelines making the processing of VISAs longer.
Premium processing which I mentioned above comes into play here. (guaranteeing faster USCIS action for an extra fee) was introduced around 2001; arts groups noted that regular (non-premium) processing often lagged as a result thanks to a post 9/11 world.
Now we move into the Biden years and post-COVID: Pandemic backlogs affected the broader system. Non-premium processing I-129 medians were relatively contained in some years, but O/P artist-specific processing began lengthening more noticeably from around mid-2024. Interview waiver rules were also being tightened.
So in conclusion its a known issue that has been getting worse with time and Covid made it even worse with backing up the system.
I am not saying Trump hasn't tighten the program, but to put it all on him is wrong. Overall this seems to be a case of not applying in time and likely refusing to purchase the Premium Processing.
現地時間の2026年10月22日(木)、23(金)に開催を予定しておりました『ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 7th EVENT WORLD TOUR “THE STAGE” in LOS ANGELES』につきまして、誠に残念ではございますが、公演を中止せざるを得ない状況となりました。
スタッフ一同、開催を目指し関係各所とも調整を重ね、あらゆる方法を模索してまいりましたが、公演に必要な米国ビザを取得できなかったため、苦渋の決断ではございますが、公演の実施を断念せざるを得ない状況となりました。
公演を楽しみにお待ちいただいておりましたトレーナーの皆様には、ご迷惑とご心配をおかけしましたこと、また開催直前のご案内となりましたことを深くお詫び申し上げます。
また、今回の中止に伴い、下記内容に関しては払い戻しの対応を予定しております。
・現地観覧チケット
・配信チケット
・ウマ娘 × JTB 7th EVENT “THE STAGE” in LOS ANGELES OFFICIAL TOUR
・ライブビューイング
また、本公演に現地参加される予定のお客様への対応を検討しております。
お時間をいただくこととなりますが、今後の対応詳細につきましては決定次第「7th EVENT 特設サイト」にてご案内いたしますので今しばらくお待ちください。
改めてとなりますが、本公演を楽しみにお待ちいただいたトレーナーの皆様、また本公演の開催に向けて多大なるご尽力をいただきましたウマ娘キャスト、スタッフ、関係者の皆様にご迷惑をおかけいたしましたことを、深くお詫び申し上げます。
お知らせにつきましては、こちらをご覧ください。
umamusume.jp/news/detail?id=…