Can I use my accomplishments as an athlete for O-1 petition as a coach?

In almost all cases, it is NOT appropriate for an athlete to coach or perform seminars for payment while on a P-1 visa. The P-1 visa is limited in work authorization and the USCIS is increasingly enforcing the requirement for athletes to only COMPETE on the P-1 visa. Technically, the P-1 visa does not even authorize training. Many athletes are experiencing difficulty during the renewal process of their visas because of unauthorized work. 

If an athlete is adamant about coaching and/or conducting seminars instead of or in addition to competing, the O-1 visa is the best option to protect proper work authorization. The O-1 visa allows for an itinerary that includes a variety of activities such as competitions, media tours, books, content producing, coaching, seminars, and many more activities. 

However, if the athlete will not be competing, they will have to have a job title that reflects what they will be doing. For athletes who no longer compete, this job title is often coach or trainer. The issue is the athlete who has recently stopped competing does not have a lot of accomplishments in coaching and would like to use their athletic accomplishments to prove that knowledge in the sport. Typically, the USCIS only finds the past two years of athletic accomplishments persuasive for O-1 petitions as a coach. 

Website: www.sherrodsportsvisas.com

Phone: 202-903-2404

Email: info@sherrodsportsvisas.com