Reviewed by André Matias, Esq., Principal Attorney
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 recognized, and by whom. The categories are not interchangeable, and the right one depends on where you are in your career.
If you compete at an internationally recognized level — P-1A
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (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).
The wording makes the P-1A a temporary visa, not an open-ended move. A team petition lasts for the competition or event, up to 1 year; an individual athlete's can be approved for up to 5 years.
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, recognized 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
Choosing the category 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 — on the O-1A on their own record, or as P-1S support beside a P-1A athlete
- Teams and groups traveling 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, and we are as comfortable with an individual competitor as with a club bringing in a squad. Each sport below has its own page, covering its governing bodies, the evidence it produces and who files for its athletes.
- Combat sports: Boxing, Mixed martial arts and UFC, Martial arts, Judo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Fencing
- Racquet sports: Tennis, Table tennis, Padel, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash
- Endurance and water sports: Rowing, Swimming and diving, Track and field, Cycling, Triathlon
- Strength and artistic sports: Gymnastics, Weightlifting, Figure skating
- Snow, surf and street: Ski and snowboard, Surf, skateboarding and BMX
- Horses and engines: Equestrian and horse racing, Rodeo, Motorsport
- Team sports: Hockey, Soccer
- Golf, poker and esports: Golf, Poker, Esports
Two pages cover a path rather than a sport: Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including LA28 and what it takes to compete for a country you weren't born in, and student-athletes moving from college sport to a professional career.
If your sport isn't listed, the P-1A, O-1 and EB-1A pages explain the categories, and a consultation will tell you which fits.
Why Altius
Led by an Olympian, built for athletes
Our founder, André Matias, brings firsthand experience as an Olympian to our practice. He understands the pressures athletes face, from selection deadlines to contract dates, and is committed to guiding you through the immigration process.
Clear, Simple, Dedicated Immigration Support
The U.S. immigration system is complex, and we explain it plainly: which category fits, what evidence it needs, and who files.
We work in English, Portuguese, Spanish and French, from our office in Georgetown, Washington, DC.