Yusuf/Cat Stevens’ North American book tour for his upcoming memoir Cat On The Road to Find Out has been postponed over ongoing visa issues, the singer-songwriter announced on social media on Monday.
“Waiting months for visa approvals, we held out as long as we could,” Yusuf wrote on his Instagram on Monday. “However, at this point, the production logistics necessary for my show cannot be arranged in time. I am really upset! Not least for my fans who have bought tickets and made travel plans to see me perform.”
The tour was originally slated to start this week on October 2 in Philadelphia. The announcement comes just weeks after Yusuf had originally said earlier in September that the tour was hitting snags dealing with U.S. immigration, saying that the tour was in “serious jeopardy.”
Yusuf didn’t specify what issues he was facing, though the shakeup comes as more international artists face hurdles with booking dates in the U.S. over increasing challenges in the visa process. FKA Twigs, for example, had to cancel her Coachella performance and several other U.S. dates back in April citing visa issues. Back in May, Chicago Latin music festival Michelada Fest announced it was forced to cancel due to “uncertainty around artist visas and the shifting political climate.”
Cat On The Road to Find Out is set to release on October 7. Yusuf first announced the memoir back in May. Yusuf said monday that “North American audiences may still get a chance to see the tour if visa approvals eventually come through,” though he didn’t suggest that would be any time soon.
“Those dates would be some time away because of other travel tour plans but, hopefully, fans will be able to hop on the Peace Train route at some time in the future,” Yusuf wrote. Meanwhile, tour delays should not affect the book, which you’ll still be able to enjoy… the obvious benefit of it being — books don’t need visas!”