Dates were to have kicked off with an appearance on the Today Show and included a special concert for the New York Department of Sanitation workers and families at the organization's Family Day this August.

In a statement, George said: "I was really hoping that the issue would be resolved and that some kind soul at the US Visa Office would realize that if the police in the UK placed no restrictions on my movements, that should have been good enough for them. I am very sorry that I will not see all my American fans this year, but I wish them a happy and healthy Fourth of July. I include the Visa Office in those good wishes and realize they are doing a very difficult job and I just got unlucky."

George will soldier on, however, with a South American tour in September and a 25-date tour across the UK in October of this year. The singer's North American dates will be rescheduled for Winter 2009.