They used to do this to American performers wanting to come over here over here one time, but my understanding is that they stopped doing it, partly because it made them look ridiculous, but also so as to make it easier for people from here to perform in America.

They seem to have a lot of difficulty in making these things evenhanded both ways - rather like the present row about it being much much harder to get an American charged with a crime deported here than the other way round.