Sports, Artists and Entertainment

Katz Immigration Law, LLC assists international athletes, coaches, athletic support personnel, artists and entertainers to secure immigration work and travel visas to compete and work in the United States. 

P-1 Visas for Internationally Recognized Athletes, Coaches and Support Personnel

  • The P-1 entertainment visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows foreign nationals who are athletes, artists and entertainers to enter into the U.S. for a specific event, competition or performance. The P-1 Visa classifications cover individuals who compete at an internationally recognized level.
  • Essential Support Personnel, such a coaches or trainers, who are an integral part of the performance of a P-1 athlete/team and who perform support services which cannot be readily performed by a U.S. worker, are eligible for P-1S classification.

O-1 Visas for Athletes and Coaches

The O-1 visa is a temporary (nonimmigrant) work visa available for individuals (athletes or coaches) who have demonstrated “extraordinary ability” in the athletics field. To qualify for an O-1A visa, you must prove that you are among the top of your athletic field, either by receiving a major, internationally recognized award (such as an Olympic Medal), or meeting at least 3 of the following 8 criteria:

    1. Awards: Receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in an athletic field.
    2. Memberships: Membership in athletic associations in your sport that require outstanding achievements of their members.
    3. Published Articles Written by Others About Your Work: Published material in professional or major trade publication or in the major media about you and relating to your athletic accomplishments.
    4. Peer Review Activities: Participation as a judge (individually or as a part of a panel) of the work of others in your athletic field.
    5. Original Contributions: Evidence of your original contributions of major significance in your athletic field.
    6. Published Scholarly Articles Written by You: Authorship of scholarly articles in your athletic field, in professional journals or other major media.
    7. Critical Capacity: Performance in a critical or essential capacity for sports organizations with distinguished reputations.
    8. Comparatively High Salary: Evidence that you have commanded a high salary or other significantly high compensation for services in relation to others in your athletic field.

Tennis Professionals: For those seeking assistance with job opportunities in the USA and raising their career to a higher level please contact Kyle LaCroix at SETS Consulting http://setsconsult.org/about/.

O-1B Extraordinary ability in the arts or achievement in motion picture/television industry.

In support of an O-1B (Arts) Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker the petitioner must establish that the beneficiary:

  • Has extraordinary ability in the arts which has been demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim;
  • Has achievements that have been recognized in the field through extensive documentation; and
  • Is coming to work in the area of extraordinary ability (but not necessarily that the particular duties to be performed require someone of such extraordinary ability

The supporting documentation for an O-1B (Arts) petition must include evidence that the applicant has received, or been nominated for, a significant national or international award or prize in the particular field (such as an Academy Award, Emmy, Grammy, or Director’s Guild Award) or at least three of the following forms of evidence:

1. Evidence that the applicant has performed, and will perform, services as a lead or starring participant in productions or events which have a distinguished reputation as evidenced by critical reviews, advertisements, publicity releases, publications, contracts, or endorsements.

2. Evidence that the applicant has achieved national or international recognition for achievements evidenced by critical reviews or other published materials by or about the beneficiary in major newspapers, trade journals, magazines, or other publications.

3. Evidence that the applicant has performed, and will perform, in a lead, starring, or critical role for organizations and establishments that have a distinguished reputation evidenced by articles in newspapers, trade journals, publications, or testimonials.

4. Evidence that the applicant has a record of major commercial or critically acclaimed successes as evidenced by such indicators as title, rating, standing in the field, box office receipts, motion pictures or television ratings, and other occupational achievements reported in trade journals, major newspapers, or other publications.

5. Evidence that the applicant has received significant recognition for achievements from organizations, critics, government agencies, or other recognized experts in the field in which the beneficiary is engaged. Such testimonials must be in a form which clearly indicates the author’s authority, expertise, and knowledge of the beneficiary’s achievements.

6. Evidence that the applicant has either commanded a high salary or will command a high salary or other substantial remuneration for services in relation to others in the field, as evidenced by contracts or other reliable evidence.