The P-2 classification is for artists and entertainers, individually or as a group (including essential support personnel), performing under a bilateral, reciprocal exchange program between an entity in the U.S. and an entity in a given foreign country, which program seeks to maintain rough similarity in terms of the caliber of artists exchanged, their terms and conditions of employment, and overall numbers. A labor organization must have been involved in negotiating the program, or at least have concurred in its establishment.

As a practical matter, the only publicly available P-2 programs at the moment are conducted under the auspices of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), with its Canadian counterpart, and Actor's Equity, with its U.K. and Canadian counterparts. The American Guild of Musical Artists abolished the P-2 program with its Canadian counterpart. In these cases, the union itself, with the active involvement of its foreign counterpart, can serve as petitioner, though there is no barrier to a private petitioner filing a P-2 petition with the union's concurrence. Otherwise, the rules are pretty much the same as for other P petitions, in terms of separate petitions for support personnel, itineraries, and the maximum classification period of one year.

While it is relatively easy to work with the AFM's P-2 program, it is far more complicated with respect to the Actor's Equity P-2 program. Be prepared for lengthy, tedious negotiations, bonding requirements, and, in general, a surreal, and costly, experience.