US folkies - write your senators and representatives,
but don't hold your breath.
As some have pointed out, this is a bureaucracy issue...
and not one we're likely to be able to do much about.
My understanding is that mid-level paper pushers can stall
or nix a visa with not much more motivation than having a bad day.
As the agent above said, paper work must be done in a *timely* manner
with all the details triple checked.

Sadly, folk performers seem more vulnerable than others.
Probably because they're not big names (especially to the
mid-level paper pushers). We can rant, call it bad politics,
come up with a thousand ways that things could be more efficient,
rational, etc. and it won't amount to a hill of beans.

And I agree - the thread title isn't actually very helpful.
It gives the wrong impression of what's going on.

And isn't it amazing how someone comes in, stirs things up
and then disappears? Tom Bliss, what are you up to?
Perhaps you could enlighten us?