Miami Immigration Law: Understanding the P-1A Visa

If you want to come to the US for an athletic event in which you are a participant, you’re probably interested in getting a P-1A visa. This visa is available to athletes who participate in individual events or who are part of teams. The visa is intended to make it possible for athletes who have an interest in a specific event to participate.

In order to receive this visa, you need to be internationally recognized for your athletic prowess to be eligible for this visa. Also, the definition of a sport is not just limited to major traditional sports like baseball or soccer. A couple of years ago, a South Korean video game player received a P-1A visa.

As with many visas, the P-1A visa is initiated when your employer files a petition. In this case, the petition is Form I-129. A Form I-129 needs to include a description of the event and the itinerary, a contract with the sports organization, and then at least two pieces of evidence demonstrating that you or your team are internationally recognized or have above average skills. These could include:

•  Evidence that you or your team participated in a significant sports event in the US in the past
•  Evidence that you or your team participated in a significant international competition
•  Evidence that you or your team participated in a US intercollegiate competition in the past
•  A written document from a recognized US sports official stating that you or your team are internationally acknowledged as significant
•  A written document from a recognized sports media spokesperson or expert in your sport stating that you and your team are internationally acknowledged to be significant
•  If your sport has international rankings, evidence that you or your team have been ranked or evidence of having received significant honors or awards

The P-1A visa allows an individual to stay as long as it takes to complete the event or performance. The maximum stay is five years, but this can be extended so that the total stay can be as long as 10 years. A team may stay for one year, with further one-year extensions possible. An athlete or a team may be accompanied by support personnel, who are generally granted an initial stay of one year that can be extended to a 10-year stay.

The spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 of a P-1A visa holder may accompany him or her. Your family members cannot work while in the US, though they may attend college or other schools.

The accompanying support personnel need to supply documents testifying to their skills, their experience with you or your team, and a copy of their contract.

If you would like to learn more about the P-1A visa, or if you have immigration questions in general, we’d be glad to assist. Please give us a call today!