Sherrod Sports Visas successfully petitioned a multi year O-1 visa for long time World Champion Cecilia Braekhus. Her visa was processed without a request for evidence at the California Service Center. The O-1 visa flexibility allows her to compete, train, host seminars, perform in movies, and participate in sponsorship activations without any threat to her work authorization. 

Cecilia Braekhus is one of the best fighters on the planet holding a record of  35-0 and while acquiring the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC, WBO, and Ring Magazine World Championships in the Welterweight division. Cecilia is a dominant champion and holds all of the major world championships in her weight class and has defended these belts more than anyone in history.  She has also won the Boxing Writers’ Association of America’s award as the best female boxer in the world regardless of weight class. 

 Typically, athletes require a P-1 visa for work authorization but the limitations can create issues. For example, if the athlete is on a P-1 visa for competition,  is not appropriate to perform in certain sponsorship activations, host seminars, coach, or appear in movies and get paid in the United States. This activity could result in the renewal for the visa being denied due to unauthorized work in the United States. For exceptional athletes, the O-1 would be more appropriate due to the expanded work authorization. In Cecilia’s case, she receives many offers for media appearances, sponsorship activations, and other opportunities outside of the ring that are not supported on a P-1 visa. With the O-1 visa Cecilia can perform all of these activities without having to stress about whether or not she is violating her work authorization. 

“It was a lot of fun to work with the World Champ,” partner, Sherrod Seward says. “I kept getting more impressed with her career as we gathered evidence for her petition. I am sure the adjudicator at USCIS felt the same way as they review her petition.”

Cecilia is working with her promoter 360 Promotions to set a date for her next World Championship defense which can happen in the United States. In the meantime, Cecilia will be working with her sponsors and work on other opportunities outside of the ring. 

Sherrod Sports Visas is one of the premier law firms in the country for athletic based immigration solutions. Our team specializes in solutions for combat sports related sports such as boxing, kickboxing, BJJ, mixed martial arts, wrestling, and more. To learn more, simply visit our website our give us a call at 310-209-8545.