Eu devo pedir por um visto de atleta?

Eduardo Mattos • March 2, 2023

Click here to read this article in English and Spanish

     O visto de atleta (P-1A) permite que você venha e permaneça nos Estados Unidos para participar em eventos esportivos. Você não precisa necessariamente de um visto P-1A para competir na maioria das competições. Entretanto, caso você esteja pensando seriamente em uma carreira e os Estados Unidos faça parte de um papel importante no seu esporte, então você deve definitivamente considerar aplicar para um visto P-1A. Uma vez que os vistos B-1 ou o B-2 (negócios/turismo) não permitem que a permanência seja superior a seis meses, e a renovação pode ser arriscada, uma vez que pode causar mais males do que bem para a sua carreira.

     Vamos dizer que você se demite do seu trabalho, treine duro, e venha competir em uma grande competição nos Estados Unidos. Você se sai bem na competição, conhece um monte de gente legal, e tem a oportunidade de ficar no país treinando com os atletas, academias e técnicos de mais alto nível. Você sente que está ajeitado nos Estados Unidos. Você pode fazer isso com um visto B1/B2, mas apenas por seis meses. Você pode tentar estender a sua permanência, o que é possível de ser feito, mas muitas vezes isso é negado, e você precisará deixar os Estados Unidos e retornar para o seu país natal ou se tornar uma pessoa sem status, sem muito futuro nos Estados Unidos.

     Uma outra alternativa é aplicar para um visto para estudante (F1) status. Estudar é sempre bom! Entretanto, a maioria dos atletas que conhecemos não querem nada a ver com isso e preferem focar o seu dinheiro, tempo e energia em aperfeiçoar-se no esporte. Eles não querem pagar por aulas e comprometer uma boa parcela de tempo dentro de uma sala de aula fingindo que se importam. Além disso, o visto seria cancelado se a pessoa parasse de comparecer às aulas.

     Com o visto P1-A, você não precisa se preocupar com a dor de cabeça e ansiedade que seria tentar a sorte com a USCIS a cada seis meses para renovar o B1/B2. Não vale a pena. E, você também não precisa pagar por escola e pode usar o seu dinheiro e tempo para trabalhar em ser um campeão.

     Então, como alguém consegue um visto P1-A? Primeiro, obviamente, você precisa ser um atleta – alguém que devota a maior parte de seu tempo para treinar e se preparar para comparecer em competições. Você não precisa ser patrocinado ou o melhor, mas você precisa competir ativamente e idealmente estar no ranking. As competições que você participa precisam ser relevantes para o seu esporte, e os atletas devem possuir diferentes nacionalidades para participar. 

     Aém disso, você deverá demonstrar algum nível de conquistas e reconhecimento em seu esporte. Você não precisa ser um campeão mundial, mas você não poderá ter o visto de atleta pela sua primeira ou segunda competição. Bons resultados passados e performances são importantes, especialmente quando pareado com alguma mídia que reconheça o seu esforço. Então, se você aparecer na internet, artigos, revistas, isso será extremamente útil no seu caso.

     Agora que você sabe mais sobre o tema, você poderá decidir por si mesmo o que é melhor para você. Só nunca vá ilegal, ok? O Tio Sam não gosta disso.

     Caso você tenha alguma pergunta sobre o que significa ter um visto de atleta para você, por favor, marque um horário para fazer uma consulta com um de nossos advogados!
 

Este blog não se destina a ser um aconselhamento jurídico e nada aqui deve ser interpretado como estabelecimento de uma relação cliente-advogado. Por favor, agende uma consulta com um advogado de imigração, antes de agir baseado em qualquer informação lida neste blog.

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