Beenie Man - File

International Dancehall artiste Beenie Man, was unable to perform on BET's 106 & Park alongside Nicki Minaj last weekend.

The deejay was left disappointed after he attempted to board a flight to the United States but was informed by officials that his cameo appearance would qualify as work, and his visa does not carry a work permit.

"I was getting ready to leave when I was told by the officials fi call mi lawyer because I don't have a work permit," Beenie Man said.

Beenie Man explained that he was unaware that certain conditions applied for a cameo appearance, since he was only going to perform as an invited guest alongside Nicki Minaj.

"I wasn't expecting this because it was just an invite by Nicki Minaj, but they are saying whether it's an invitation or not, the artiste will be placed on a roster for compensation and that would be a problem," he said.

He said that when the artistes do live performances in the United States it is seen as work under the copyright law.

"In the US yu have a thing name performing rights which is still payment, and that itself could cause problems, so I decided not to go. It is better to lose the gig and wait on my work permit and that is what I am doing," he said.

The artiste took the opportunity to apologise to his fans and expressed his disappointment. "I will just have to wait until my permit comes, I am very disappointed but a just one of those things," he said.

Beenie Man had his United States visa reinstated last year after he and several other artistes lost their visas in 2010.