The State Department recently noted a change to the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) clarifying that certain match officials can travel to the U.S. on a B-1 business visa or Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

Key Points:

  • The FAM was “revised to add participants in international sporting events for visa processing” on April 14, 2025, in advance of FIFA World Cup 2026, the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and other sporting events.
  • The policy manual now clarifies that certain referees, judges and technical officials may be issued a B-1 visa if they have been hired to serve in their officiate capacity at a sporting event with an international dimension.
  • Eligible match officials may also use ESTA to facilitate their travel to the U.S.

Additional Information: The new policy language falls under 9 FAM 402.2-5 (C)(10) (U) Participants in International Sporting Events (CT:VISA-2145; 04-14-2025) and reads:

Referees, Judges and Technical Officials: A referee, judge, or technical official may be issued a B-1 visa if the applicant has been hired subject to a selection process to referee, judge, oversee, or officiate a sporting event with an international dimension (such as FIFA World Cup or the Olympics). Technical officials are responsible for applying the rules or regulations of individual sports to make judgments on performance, ranking, time or rule infringement, and ensure that all athletes can compete fairly (for example, timekeepers, weigh-in officials, starters, lane inspectors, and stroke and turn officials). Such aliens may not receive a salary or payment for services from a U.S. source, other than remuneration for incidental expenses.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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