P Visa for Athletes
Natalia Hynes • March 16, 2021
What choice does an athlete have to come to the United States of America to compete and train for a long season?
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If you were to ask me which athlete I admire the most, my answer would be Katherine Switzer, without a second thought. Why? Two reasons. First, she is a female athlete and long-distance runner. Long-distance runners have the peculiarity of competing against themselves rather than against other runners. The ultimate goal of a long-distance runner is to beat their time from previous races.
The primary condition for obtaining a P Visa as an individual athlete is ‘international recognition,’ and the way to prove such status is by submitting at least two of the following documents:
1) Evidence of significant participation in a prior season with a major U.S. sports league;
2) Evidence of participation in international competition with a national team;
3) Evidence of significant participation in a prior season for a U.S. college or university in intercollegiate competition;
4) A letter issued by the official governing body of the sport explaining how the athlete is internationally recognized;
5) Articles about the athlete published in sports media or sports experts explaining in detail how the athlete is internationally recognized;
6) Documents showing that the athlete has been internationally-ranked;
7) Documents showing that the athlete has received relevant recognition or an award in the field.
Second, she was the first woman to run an official marathon—the Boston Marathon—in 1967. A huge accomplishment if we take into consideration that women were forbidden from running in that official marathon at that time. I must confess that her story inspired me to run long-distance races and brought me to admire the work and dedication that athletes put upon themselves toward their quest for victory.
During that quest to victory, athletes are frequently required to travel to the United States of America—the virtual Mecca for dozens of sports—to participate in renowned competitions. Here, the question becomes logical and obvious: how can an athlete enter the United States of America to compete and train for a long season? One of the options is the ‘P Visa for Athletes.’
Suppose an athlete submits at least two of the above documents. In that case, the athlete is likely to be granted a P Visa for up to 5 years. The current regulation allows the P Visa to be renewed for a maximum period of 5 years.
Finally, the Santos Lloyd Law Firm has secured P visas for numerous athletes in various sports, including Jiu-Jitsu (all divisions), MMA, capoeira, kickboxing, poker, and paddle boarding, among other disciplines.
If you have any questions about P Visas for athletes, please feel free to schedule an intake appointment.
Santos Lloyd Law Firm hopes to work with you and contribute to your quest.
This blog is not intended to be legal advice and nothing here should be construed as establishing an attorney client relationship. Please schedule a consultation with an immigration attorney before acting on any information read here.
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