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With the FIFA World Cup kicking off in Qatar next week, masses of people are converging on the small desert peninsula to attend this major international event.
The next FIFA World Cup will be hosted in the U.S. for the first time in 30 years. While 2026 may seem far off, planning has already begun for what is projected to be the biggest World Cup in history.
Over the next decade, tens of millions of people will be visiting the U.S. for the World Cup and other global sporting events, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028 and the Rugby World Cup in 2031 and 2033.
The U.S. has the chance to prove we are the global leader in sports. But off the field, there are immigration logistics the U.S. must get right in order to pull off a successful event. Athletes, coaches, event staff, and other personnel, as well as hordes of avid sports fans from around the world, must be issued visas in time to get to the U.S. for these competitions.
Recent events indicate the U.S. is currently unprepared for the surge in travel that comes with hosting major international tournaments. This summer, the U.S. hosted the World Athletics Championships for the very first time, but visa issues stole news headlines, nearly overshadowing the event itself.
At the start of the competition, hundreds of athletes were still trying to get their visas, and several, including one of the fastest men in the world, barely made it to the U.S. in time for their races.
This can’t happen again. It reflects poorly on the U.S. and is a disservice to the athletes who have trained for years to compete in these events.
To come to the U.S., most foreign citizens must apply for and secure a visa before travel – a multi-step process that includes a detailed application and an in-person interview with a consular officer at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad, among other requirements.
Some travelers may need to petition immigration authorities in the U.S. before applying for a visa abroad, complicating and extending the visa timeline. When millions of people are traveling at the same time for the same event, delays are inevitable – but they can be mitigated.
Without a concerted effort by U.S. immigration agencies to prioritize and streamline visa processing for sports, the U.S. risks losing billions of dollars in sports revenue and will watch world-class sporting events head overseas.
As a former attorney who helped shape visa policy in the State Department’s Visa Office, I know the government can do more to ensure that the next decade in sports is a resounding win for the U.S.
For example, the U.S. could create a streamlined, electronic visa process for accredited travelers attending these mega international sporting events.
We did this for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2002 and can do it again. Opening up a “fast lane” for athletes, coaches, staff, and visitors by modifying visa and entry requirements would be a viable solution for facilitating entry to the U.S. and dramatically reducing visa delays while addressing U.S. national security concerns.
The U.S. can also take smaller steps to show it remains committed to the U.S. sports industry and our ability to host international sporting events.
Every agency that touches the process – the State Department, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Customs and Border Protection – should have dedicated points of contact whose primary role is to regularly engage with sports industry stakeholders and support them through the immigration process.
Temporary special lanes at airports and other points of entry for major international sporting events would help expedite the arrival process.
If additional resources are needed, there is a strong argument that Congress support funding programs and offices dedicated to facilitating travel for international sports events over the course of the next decade and beyond, as sports are becoming more global.
With 2023 just around the corner – the start of one of the most impactful decades for the U.S. sports industry – the government must proactively work with stakeholders and take meaningful action to show it can and will do more to eliminate unnecessary immigration barriers for international sporting events.
Tiffany Derentz is a Senior Counsel with BAL and a member of the firm’s Government Strategies team and Sports & Entertainment group. Tiffany served in the U.S. State Department for nine years and has been a key advisor to senior leadership within the Visa Office, the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the White House, and other federal agencies on all aspects of immigration law.
DALLAS (Nov. 15, 2022) — Award-winning immigration firm BAL has opened a Los Angeles office focused on sports and entertainment immigration. Building upon its representation of major league sports teams, international athletic organizations and leading entertainment studios, BAL now provides a dedicated boutique for these efforts in the LA office, supported by the firm’s nationwide legal teams.
“Launching this practice is an exciting step,” said Attorney J. Gabriel Castro, BAL Sports and Entertainment Practice Lead. “I’ve been an LA sports fan all my life and love the energy of working in the Entertainment Capital of the World. Now to be in a position to help teams and studios here secure the top talent from all over the world — that’s pretty special.”
A longtime LA resident, Gabriel knew the office needed to be within proximity to the city’s biggest venues to enable the firm’s legendary client service. Located blocks from entertainment complex LA Live, the office is also close to the Crypto.com Arena, Dodger Stadium and the LA Coliseum.
The increasingly globalized worlds of the sports and entertainment industries require frequent travel and location changes, and companies rely on skilled immigration counsel more than ever, especially with added challenges presented by COVID. Gabriel and his team have worked to proactively counsel clients on the effects of processing delays, lockouts, vaccination requirements and other current immigration challenges that can disrupt athletic teams and entertainment projects.
“BAL is all about making a positive difference in people’s lives, and we’ve done that for over 40 years across virtually every industry,” said Managing Partner Jeremy Fudge. “Adding the Sports and Entertainment Practice at this moment — when the world feels heavy for many people — is significant. We’re helping some of the best sports and entertainment stars provide an outlet of enjoyment for audiences across the world.”
The expansion is BAL’s sixth new office in the past five years, growing our presence in major U.S. economic centers, including the recently opened Denver office. The firm’s oneBAL approach incentivizes sharing workloads firmwide, while regional offices provide the personal interaction and on-the-ground support BAL clients have come to expect from the service-oriented firm.
About BAL BAL, the world’s leading corporate immigration law firm, is singularly focused on meeting the immigration challenges of corporate clients around the world in ways that make immigration more strategic and enable businesses to be more successful. Established in 1980, BAL has consistently provided immigration expertise, people-centered client services and leading technology innovation. In 2018, BAL entered into a first-of-its-kind strategic alliance with Deloitte U.K. to create the world’s first global immigration service delivery model.
BAL’s proprietary Cobalt® digital immigration services platform won the 2020 CODiE Award for Best Legal Tech Product, the prestigious CIO100 award for Innovative Use of Intelligent Automation in Immigration Services and Legalweek‘s Most Innovative Law Firm Operations Team of 2021. BAL and its leaders are highly ranked in every major legal publication, including Best Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal. BAL has ranked #1 on multiple industry rankings for diversity, equity and inclusion, including the #1 Law Firm for Women by the National Law Journal four years in a row (2019-2022), #1 on the Diversity Scorecard by The American Lawyer (2020 and 2021), and #1 on Law360’s Diversity Snapshot for three years running (2020-2022). BAL won The Best Company for Career Growth and the Best Company for Perks & Benefits by Comparably, based solely on employee ratings. The Dallas Business Journal named BAL one of only a handful of the 2022 Best Places to Work based exclusively on employee feedback. US News & World Report–Best Lawyers named BAL the 2023 Immigration Law Firm of the Year.
See website for details: https://www.bal.com
Media Contact: Emily Albrecht Senior Director — Marketing & Communications ealbrecht@bal.com 469-559-0174
DALLAS, Nov. 3, 2022 — Trailblazing immigration firm BAL has been named the 2023 Law Firm of the Year in Immigration Law by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. BAL outranked every other immigration law firm in the nation for this esteemed award, given to only one law firm per year. This is the second time BAL has earned this distinction in the past four years.
“We are incredibly honored by this recognition, and it inspires us to keep getting better by growing and innovating our practice,” said BAL Managing Partner Jeremy Fudge. “I couldn’t be prouder of the 1,500 employees who make a positive difference for our clients every day. Their dedication makes this firm what it is today.”
BAL’s top spot was based on client feedback and peer reviews from the country’s top practicing attorneys. “Best Law Firms” are recognized for their professional excellence, stellar ratings from peers and clients, and a unique combination of legal expertise and quality of service.
One client praised BAL for “hav[ing] the resources and expertise of a large firm, with the benefit of a dedicated core small team of attorneys that we partner with on a daily basis.”
Another client said BAL “provides insights and legal guidance that exceeds other immigration law firms and which is critical to business planning and strategy.”
“I can rest easy knowing my immigration program is running smoothly,” said another client quoted by Best Lawyers. “We’ve collaborated closely to create processes that make things easier and reduce risk. Our company’s program is a well-oiled machine with BAL managing it.”
As immigration became increasingly complex over the past few years, BAL rose to the challenge, helping some of the biggest companies in the world acquire the talent they needed and assisting countless individuals on their immigration journeys. Offering enhanced immigration services and responding to the demand for a people-centered, tech-forward client experience, BAL expanded its nationwide practice, adding offices in Santa Clara, Austin and Denver, and nearly doubling the size of its headquarters in Dallas. The firm also launched BAL Community, a first-ever membership platform for in-house HR, immigration and mobility professionals to collaborate and gain critical industry insights to be successful.
“In my two decades at BAL, we have not only grown exponentially but we remain more passionate than ever about delivering solutions for our clients and helping people,” said BAL Partner Frieda Garcia. “We continue to attract top-notch professionals who are committed to our mission and our collaborative team culture that empowers us to be the best for the people we serve.”
In addition to awarding BAL the Law Firm of the Year recognition, U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers ranked six BAL offices — Boston, Dallas, Denver, Houston, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. — in the elite Metropolitan Tier 1 category.
About “Best Law Firms” The U.S. News-Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer reviews from leading attorneys in the field, and reviews of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process.
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance.
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For 40 years, Best Lawyers has identified the lawyers who are best qualified to represent clients in need of legal services. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional and national publications across the globe.
About BAL BAL, the world’s leading corporate immigration law firm, is singularly focused on meeting the immigration challenges of corporate clients around the world in ways that make immigration more strategic and enable businesses to be more successful. Established in 1980, BAL has consistently provided immigration expertise, people-centered client services and leading technology innovation. In 2018, BAL entered into a first-of-its-kind strategic alliance with Deloitte U.K. to create the world’s first global immigration service delivery model. BAL’s proprietary Cobalt® digital immigration services platform won the 2020 CODiE Award for Best Legal Tech Product, the prestigious CIO100 award for Innovative Use of Intelligent Automation in Immigration Services and Legalweek‘s Most Innovative Law Firm Operations Team of 2021. BAL and its leaders are highly ranked in every major legal publication, including Best Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal.
BAL has ranked #1 on multiple industry rankings for diversity, equity and inclusion, including the #1 Law Firm for Women by the National Law Journal four years in a row (2019-2022), #1 on the Diversity Scorecard by The American Lawyer (2020 and 2021), and #1 on Law360’s Diversity Snapshot for three years running (2020-2022). BAL won in seven of Comparably’s Best Company categories, including Diversity, Women, Career Growth, and Perks & Benefits. The Dallas Business Journal named BAL one of only a handful of the 2022 Best Places to Work based exclusively on employee feedback. US News & World Report–Best Lawyers named BAL the 2023 Immigration Law Firm of the Year.