Your athletic talent deserves a global stage — we'll help you get there.
Which visa fits which athlete
Most sports immigration questions come down to one thing: how your career is recognised, and by whom. The categories are not interchangeable, and the right one depends on where you are.
If you compete at an internationally recognised level — P-1A
USCIS states that the P-1A classification applies if you are "coming temporarily to the United States solely for the purpose of performing at a specific athletic competition" as an individual athlete or as part of a group or team "at an internationally recognized level of performance," as a professional athlete, or as an athlete or coach on a U.S. team that belongs to a foreign league (USCIS, P-1A Athlete).
Two things follow from that wording, and they matter. Coaches are named, not an afterthought. And it is tied to a specific competition — this is the category for a season, a tour, or a tournament, not an open-ended move.
If your record is exceptional in its own right — O-1A
The O-1 is for someone who "possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics… and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements." The athletics version is the O-1A (USCIS, O-1 Visa).
The practical difference from the P-1A is what the evidence is about. The P-1A asks about the level you compete at and the event you are coming for. The O-1A asks about you — a record of achievement, recognised nationally or internationally.
If you are staying — EB-1A
For athletes building a permanent life in the United States rather than a season, the conversation moves to a green card, and for athletes with sustained acclaim that usually starts with the EB-1A.
Which one is yours
That is the conversation to have before anything is filed, because the categories reward different evidence and the wrong one wastes months. We will tell you which fits, and if none does yet, we will tell you that too.
Who we act for
Not every athlete arrives with a professional contract, and the visa categories reflect that.
- National and Olympic team hopefuls — athletes competing toward selection, where the record is real but still building
- Professional athletes joining U.S. leagues, clubs and franchises
- Coaches and technical staff — named in the P-1A category in their own right
- Teams and groups travelling for a competition or a season
- Athletes settling permanently, where the question becomes a green card rather than a visa
The sports we work in
We act for athletes across a wide range of sports, including rowing, the racquet sports — padel, pickleball, badminton and squash — and the professional leagues, and we are as comfortable with an individual competitor as with a club bringing in a squad.
Esports has its own rules, its own governing bodies and its own evidence problems. If you compete or coach in esports, start on our esports visa page, which is written for it.
Why Choose Altius?
Led by an Olympian, Built for Athletes
Our founder, Andre, brings firsthand experience as an Olympian to our practice. He understands the unique challenges athletes face and is committed to guiding you through the immigration process with the same dedication and excellence that defined his athletic career.
Clear, Simple, Dedicated Immigration Support
We pride ourselves on making the complex U.S. immigration system understandable and manageable. Our team offers transparent guidance, straightforward communication, and unwavering support from start to finish.
We work in English, Portuguese, Spanish and French, from our office in Georgetown, Washington, DC.