P visa

BAL is the world leader in representing professional athletes, coaches, trainers and entertainers in global immigration matters.

What is the P visa?

The P nonimmigrant visa classifications were created for certain athletes, coaches, trainers, entertainers and artists coming to perform in the United States. These classifications include:

  • The P-1A visa is for individual athletes and/or members of an athletic team with an internationally recognized reputation.
  • The P-1B visa is for members of an internationally recognized entertainment group.
  • The P-1S visa is for the essential support personnel who play an integral part of the performance of P-1A and P-1B visa holders.
  • The P-2 visa is for persons coming to the U.S. to perform as part of a group under a reciprocal exchange program between a U.S. organization and a foreign organization.
  • The P-3 visa is for persons coming to the U.S. solely to perform, teach or coach in a culturally unique program.

Foreign athletes make up

70%

of the National Hockey League

28%

of Major League Baseball

25%

of the National Basketball Association

59%

of Major League Soccer

 

The BAL Sports and Entertainment Group

BAL’s leading Sports and Entertainment Group is at the forefront of solving the immigration challenges facing world-renowned athletes, actors, musicians, artists and other performers with a team of experts who:

  • Work closely with professional sports leagues, associations, agents and organizers of mega sporting and Esports/gaming events
  • Proactively advise owners, teams and athletes on immigration options and strategies
  • Have relationships with music, film, television and theatrical agencies and studios
  • Stay ahead of changing U.S. and international law to ensure legal compliance
  • Support colleges, universities, students and agents in navigating Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) for international athletes

How the oneBAL approach supports extraordinary athletes and artists

“The work we are doing is bringing some the most extraordinary people around the world to the United States. We feel that at BAL we are part of that process and that we are powering that achievement every day.” – Gabriel Castro, Head of BAL Sports and Entertainment Group

“BAL helped us with our player stuck outside the U.S. while his visa was being processed. BAL’s deep relationships with government agencies, extensive experience in immigration and empathy for our team members is a winning combination.”
– MLB General Manager
“We recently worked with BAL on a complex immigration case for our symphony which has 80 talented full-time musicians. Our situation involved a P-1B Request for Evidence for a violinist, initially filed by another law firm. BAL's expertise and dedication were instrumental in overcoming the challenges posed by this case. Their team was incredibly responsive and quick to answer any questions we had, providing clear and concise guidance throughout the process. Thanks to BAL's efforts, we were able to make up for lost time and successfully secured the visa approval, allowing our violinist to continue contributing to our success.”
– Director of Orchestra Personnel, Colorado Symphony

What makes our P visa attorneys extraordinary?

Long-lasting relationships
A winning combination of deep relationships with government agencies, extensive experience in immigration and empathy for athletes, artists and other sports professionals.
Creative solutions
A team of sport immigration professionals who develop agile and creative solutions to move your people around the world.
Power of oneBAL
The power of oneBAL provides clients with immediate access to our global consulate network, Government Strategies team, immigration law experts and best-in-class AI technology.

Talk to an attorney about sponsoring a P visa employee

P visa FAQ

What are the P-1A visa requirements?

The main requirements for the P-1A athlete classification are: The P-1A petition must be filed by the athlete’s U.S. employer, a U.S. sponsoring organization or a U.S. agent. This means the petitioner may be:

— The actual employer of the athlete;
— A U.S. sponsoring organization;
— A U.S. agent representing both the employer and the foreign national;
— A U.S. agent representing multiple employers;
— A U.S. agent performing the function of an employer; or
— A U.S. agent representing a foreign employer.

The types of documentation required for each type of petitioner described above vary but generally include relevant contracts and other evidence of the relationship to any U.S. agent.

What are the requirements specific to each athlete category of the P-1A classification?

In addition to the above, there are specific requirements for the P-1A classification that depend on the different athlete types within the category of “Internationally Recognized Individual Athletes or Teams.” Foreign nationals must have at least two of the following:

— Evidence of having participated to a significant extent in a prior season with a major U.S. sports league;
— Evidence of having participated in international competition with a national team;
— Evidence of having participated to a significant extent in a prior season for a U.S. college or university in intercollegiate competition;
— A written statement from an official of the governing body of the sport which details how the foreign nationals or their team are internationally recognized;
— A written statement from a member of the sports media or a recognized expert in the sport which details how the foreign national or their team is internationally recognized;
— Evidence that the foreign national or their team is ranked if the sport has international rankings; or
— Evidence that the foreign national or their team has received a significant honor or award in the sport.

What are the P-1B visa requirements?

A member of an internationally recognized entertainment group may be granted P-1B classification based on that relationship, but may not perform services separate and apart from the entertainment group. The P-1B nonimmigrant who is a member of an internationally recognized entertainment group must be coming to the United States to perform with the group as a unit. In addition, the entertainment group must be internationally recognized as outstanding for a sustained and substantial period of time, and 75% of the group must have had a sustained and substantial relationship with the group for at least one year. The P-1B nonimmigrant classification is not appropriate for a person performing as a solo entertainer.

The entertainment group must be internationally recognized, having a high level of achievement in a field evidenced by a degree of skill and recognition substantially above that ordinarily encountered, to the extent that such achievement is renowned, leading or well-known in more than one country. The reputation of the group, not the individual achievements of its members or the acclaim of a particular production, is essential.

What is the duration of a P-1S visa?

While P-1A individual athletes have an initial period of authorized stay of up to five years, their P-1S essential support personnel have an initial authorized stay limited to the period of time necessary to complete the event, but not to exceed one year.

Are family members of P-1 beneficiaries eligible for nonimmigrant classification?

Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 may obtain P-4 classification based on their family relationship to the P-1 beneficiary. They are entitled to the same period of admission and limitations as the P-1 beneficiary. They are not allowed to accept employment unless they have been independently granted employment authorization.

What are the P-2 visa requirements?

Beneficiaries must be an artist entering the United States through a government recognized reciprocal exchange program. Currently, five P-2 reciprocal agreements have been negotiated between the following organizations: The American Federation of Musicians (U.S.) and the American Federation of Musicians (Canada); Actor’s Equity Association (U.S.) and the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association; Actor’s Equity Association (U.S.) and the British Actors’ Equity Association; The International Council of Air Shows and the Canadian Air Show Association; The Alliance of Canadian Cinema Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) and the Screen Actor Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

What are the P-3 visa requirements?

Beneficiaries of a P-3 visa must be coming to the United States either individually or as a group for the purpose of developing, interpreting, representing, coaching or teaching a unique or traditional ethnic, folk, cultural, musical, theatrical or artistic performance or presentation. In addition, they must be coming to the United States to participate in a cultural event or events which will further the understanding or development of their art form. The program may be of a commercial or noncommercial nature.