Should I get an Athlete Visa?
Eduardo Mattos • September 1, 2022
An athlete visa (P1-A)
allows you to come to and stay in the United States to participate in sports events. You don't necessarily need a P1-A visa to compete in most circumstances. However, if you are serious about your career and the United States plays a big role in your sport, then you should definitely consider getting a P1-A visa.
Since the B1 or B2 visas (the business/tourist visas) do not allow for stays over six months and can get tricky to be renewed, that can end up causing more harm than good for your career.
Let's say you quit your job, train hard, and come to compete in a big championship in the United States. You do well in your competition, meet a bunch of cool people, and have the opportunity to stay in the country training with high-level athletes and coaches at a high-level facility. You feel like you are set in the United States. You can do this with a B1/B2, but only for six months. You can try to extend your stay, which is possible and doable, but many times it gets denied, and you will have to leave the country or become out of status with not much hope for your future in the U.S.
Another way to go about it is to apply for a student (F1) status. Studying is always good! However, most athletes I know don't want anything to do with that and prefer to focus their money, time, and energy on perfecting their craft. They don't want to pay for classes and commit to spending a good chunk of their time inside a classroom pretending to care about it. Plus, your visa will be canceled if you don't attend your classes.
With a P1-A, you don't have to worry about going through the headache and anxiety of trying your luck with the USCIS every six months to renew your B1/B2. It is just not worth it. Plus, you don't have to pay for school and can use your money and time working to be a champion.
So how does someone get a P1-A visa?
First, obviously, you need to be an athlete
- someone who devotes most of their time to training, preparing for, and showing up to competitions. You don't have to be sponsored or the best, but you must actively compete and ideally be part of a rank. The competitions you participate in must be relevant to your sport, and athletes from different nationalities must participate.
Also, you must demonstrate some level of achievement and recognition in your sport. You don't have to be a world champion, but you can't get an athlete visa for your first or second competition. Past good results and performances are important, especially when paired up with media and peer recognition. So, if you appear on the internet, in articles, or magazines, that is extremely helpful to your case.
Now that you know better, you can decide for yourself what is best for you. Just never go illegal, ok? Uncle Sam doesn't like that.
If you have any questions about what having an athlete visa means for you, please schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.
We look forward to working with you.
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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