The P-1 Visa can be broadly applied to various classes of professional and amateur athletes from around the world. Each P-1 visa application is extremely nuanced, and carefully articulated petitions are key for success with USCIS. Well prepared P-1 applications contain carefully prepared descriptions of an athlete’s attributes along with applicable supporting documentation.

#1 P-1 Visa Sponsor or Agent in the United States

Petitioners can be many sorts of enterprises to sponsor a P-1 Visa. P-1 visas are most typically petitioned by the sports league or team; however, there are many other potential sponsors.The P-1 visa must begin with a petitioner in the United States who wishes to engage the athlete for either a bout, training, or for management purposes. The petitioner must be one of the following:

1. U.S. employer (promotion or training center) – requires written contract with dates and wages

2. U.S. sponsoring organization (a major sports league) – requires written contract with dates and wages

3. U.S. agent/manager (a U.S. person representing a fighter) – requires written contract with dates, training schedule, possible performance opportunities, payment arrangements, hours of working, and fringe benefits 

4. Foreign employer through a U.S. agent – same as 3. U.S. agent/manager but the foreign employer uses a U.S. person as a conduit.

Note regarding support staff – P-1S: Essential support personnel cannot be included on the P-1 petition filed for principal athletes or members of an athletic team. A separate petition needs to be filed for such qualified essential support personnel seeking a P-1 essential support personnel visa classification

#2 International Recognition

The individual athlete must be an internationally recognized athlete based on his or her own reputation and achievements as an individual. He or she must demonstrate 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 a fighter, this includes official competition record, amateur record, any titles won, media coverage, expert opinions from industry insiders. 

#3 Written Consultation Letter from Labor Union

With a few exceptions, it is mandatory to submit a written consultation from an appropriate labor organization along with the P-1 petition. A written consultation must come from an authorized official labor organization that represents the athlete's peers in the United States. The written consultation must either be an advisory opinion that the athlete's participation does not affect the local workforce or that the organization has no objection to the approval of the P-1 visa petition. It is on the burden of the petitioner to establish that an appropriate labor organization does not exist, if that is the case. 

#4 Proof of Foreign Residence

Each athlete and support personnel must submit evidence that shows they have a permanent residence in a foreign country and no intention of abandoning that residence. Supporting evidence includes homeownership or rental agreements, utility and other bills, ownership of valuable assets, dependents, and other ties to the foreign country. 

#5 Admission to the United States

If the athlete is already in the U.S. on a visa (for example, a B-1 visitor visa), then the petitioner may remain in the U.S. while the P petition is being adjudicated. If the athlete is not in the U.S. while the P petition is being adjudicated, then the application will be processed by an embassy or consulate outside the U.S. The athlete will have to retrieve the visa from the embassy or consulate before coming to the U.S.

#6 P-4 Visas for Spouse and Children

The P-4 visa is available to the spouse and unmarried children under 21 of both P-1 athletes and P-1S support personnel. The P-4 Visa is usually limited to the same period of time as the corresponding P-1 or P-1S application. The P-4 support personnel are not permitted to accept payment but may attend school or college. 

#5 Extensions and Changes

The original P-1 petition can be authorized for up to five years as long as the business or activity that supports the petition continues. After five years, the petition may be extended for up to an additional five years for athletes. The P-1S petition for supporting personnel can be authorized for up to one year. After one year, the visa may be extended in increments of one year for up to 10 years. After, completing an extension period for the visa, the athlete or support personnel must return home and obtain the next visa at the consular office.

The P-1 athlete is only supposed to work for the entity that sponsored the P-1 visa petition. In certain circumstances such as a bout, the P-1 athlete may not have to obtain an additional P-1. It is best to consult with an attorney before making a decision to compete for another organization while sponsored for a P-1 with another entity such as a manager. If the P-1 visa holder makes a substantial change in employment, it is necessary to file a new petition for the new employment arrangement. 

Note: In the case of professional P-1 athletes who are traded from one organization to another, employment authorization for the player will automatically continue for a period of 30 days after acquisition by the new organization, within which time the new organization is expected to file a new P-1 petition. If the new petition is not filed within 30 days, employment authorization will cease. If the new petition is filed within 30 days, the professional athlete shall be deemed to have valid P-1 status, and employment shall continue to be authorized until the petition is adjudicated. If the new petition is denied, employment authorization will cease.

#6 Government Fees and Application Timing

The typical P-1 Visa application takes about a month to be processed and costs $460 in government fees. 

There is premium processing available for the P-1 Visa. Premium processing costs an additional $1,440 and requires the USCIS to make a decision within 15 business days.