British actor Daniel Radcliffe, best known for playing Harry Potter in the film series based on J.K. Rowling’s bestselling books, was unable to travel to the San Diego Comic-Con International for a scheduled appearance last Thursday after a visa issue kept him in Canada. He was eventually able to get the correct endorsement from the U.S. consulate in Toronto and made it to a Friday afternoon panel discussion in support of his upcoming film Horns.

Radcliffe was last in the U.S. under a P-2 Performer Visa

The problem seems to have been that Radcliffe was last in the U.S. under a P-2 performer visa, which allows foreign entertainers to stay in the country only for the time needed to complete their performance. Radcliffe had been a member of the cast of The Cripple Of Inishmaan on Broadway, but the comedy ended its run on July 20 and Radcliffe went to Toronto for a premiere of his move What If (also known as The F Word), which will be in cinemas next month.

Radcliffe had been seeking an O-1B visa, which may be granted to persons with “extraordinary achievement in [the] motion picture or television industry” who can demonstrate “a degree of skill and recognition significantly above that ordinarily encountered to the extent the person is recognized as outstanding, notable or leading in the motion picture and/or television field.” The O-1B allows its holder to stay in the U.S. for up to three years.

Radcliffe’s O-1B petition had been approved

Apparently Radcliffe’s O-1B petition had been approved, but the actor had not yet gotten the visa stamped in his passport. He tried to get that done after being denied entry to the U.S. on Thursday, but the Toronto consulate’s computer system was down and the request couldn’t be processed until Friday morning.
After that he caught a flight to San Diego and arrived in time to talk up Horns with his co-star, Juno Temple, and Alexandre Aja, the director. The movie, a dark fantasy about a man who grows paranormal horns after being charged with murdering his girlfriend, needs all the help it can get after receiving decidedly mediocre reviews since its premiere at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. It is scheduled for a Halloween release.

Radcliffe most recently made headlines when he boasted to Elle magazine of his increasing sexual prowess in the years since he lost his virginity and cut down on his drinking. Although he described his first time as “really good”, he said he’s had much better sex since then, and noted that his partners find it considerably more enjoyable when he’s sober. His current sweetheart, Erin Darke, hasn’t commented on the subject.