P Visa to the United States

Interested in receiving your P Visa to the United States? Count on Pilkington Immigration to help you with your case.

The P-1 classification applies to individuals coming to the U.S. temporarily to perform at a specific athletic competition as an athlete, individually or as part of a group or team, at an internationally recognized level of performance.

For individuals, you must be coming to the United States to participate in an individual event, competition, or performance in which you are internationally recognized with a high level of achievement; evidenced by a degree of skill and recognition substantially above that ordinarily encountered so that the achievement is renowned, leading or well known in more than one country.

For teams, you must be coming to the United States to participate in team events and must have achieved significant international recognition in the sport. The event in which your team is participating must be distinguished and require the participation of athletic teams of international recognition.

To gain an athlete visa for the United States, it is necessary to have either a copy of the contract with a major U.S. sports league or team or a contract in an individual sport commensurate with international recognition in the sport or documentation of at least two of the following:

• Evidence of having participated to a significant extent in a prior season with a major United States sports league
• Evidence of having participated to a significant extent in international competition with a national team
• Evidence of having participated to a significant extent in a prior season for a U.S. college or university in intercollegiate competition
• A written statement from an official of a major U.S. sports league or an official of the governing body of the sport details how you or your team is internationally recognized
• A written statement from a member of the sports media or a recognized expert in the sport details how you or your team is internationally recognized
• Evidence that you or your team is ranked, if the sport has international rankings
• Evidence that you or your team has received a significant honor or award in the sport.

The duration of your stay in the United States with a P1 Visa depends on your sports competition schedule, with a maximum duration of five years, which can be extended for up to another five years. If you have a spouse and/or an unmarried dependent child, they may join you or visit with a P4 Visa.

If you decide you want to stay in the United States by gaining your green card while under the P1 Visa, you may apply for an Adjustment of Status and seek permanent residency. This can be a difficult situation, due to the nature of the P1 Visa and the intent to return to one’s home country. However, this is usually less of an issue if you apply for a green card after 90 days of entering the United States.

Contact Our Firm

If you have questions regarding a P1 Visa for the United States, call our office or fill out the online form on this website for a no-pressure, initial case consultation. For an athlete visa to the United States, come to Pilkington Immigration. We will review your case and your options with their respective benefits and drawbacks, and any alternatives that you may have.