Israeli performer denied a US visa

Eyal Golan's recent tax crimes make him persona non grata

By Jessica Steinberg
  • Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
 11 March 2015, 12:21 pm
Israeli singer Eyal Golan (Nati Shohat/Flash90)

Tough times for Mizrachi singer Eyal Golan, who was refused an American visa for his upcoming concert tour in the US.

Golan, who was supposed to appear in concert with Sarit Haddad in Miami, as well as in Los Angeles and New York, probably didn’t get the visa due to his recent tax crimes, the Ynet news site surmised.

The singer was found guilty in 2014 of evading taxes and falsifying billing on income of NIS 2.6 million ($750,000). He had to pay a fine of NIS 75,000 and did four months of community service at an old-age home in Rishon Lezion.

Anyone who has been found guilty of evading taxes is automatically refused a visa by the US government.

While Golan has worked hard to redefine his image, it won’t make much of a difference to the US Embassy. According to Ynet, the singer will likely be granted a temporary visa, but will probably have to go through this process every time he wants to go to the US.

 

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