British rapper M.I.A. has finally been given a visa to travel to the U.S. after problems forced her to pull out of a Washington gig in May (07). The star, real name Mathangi Arulpragasam, cancelled her performance at the Sasquatch music festival two months ago after she couldn't get a visa to enter the U.S. in time. Speaking to New York's Village Voice newspaper last week ends20Jul07), M.I.A. said, "It's been a long time since I've been able to get into the U.S."I have an apartment in Brooklyn. It'd be nice to go there."Although no reason for the visa refusal has been given, reports have speculated the decision was related to the rapper's estranged father, Arul Pragasam, a former militant for the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka.M.I.A. was scheduled to perform at the Siren Festival in Coney Island, New York on Saturday (21Jul07).

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