P-1 Visa Employment Immigration Lawyer in Phoenix, AZ

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P-1 VISA

(Internationally Recognized Athletes/Entertainers)

The P-1 entertainment visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows foreign nationals who are athletes, artists and entertainers to enter into the U.S. for a specific event, competition or performance. The P-1 Visa classifications cover individuals who compete at an internationally recognized level.

Requirements for a P-1 Visa

The applicant must be a recognized athlete or entertainer participating in an event of international standing. The applicant must provide evidence of legal contracts with a major U.S. sports league, or organization.

Advantages of a P-1 Visa

The P-1 Visa holder can:

1. Travel unrestricted.
2. Engage in part time study.
3. Apply for adjustment of status and lawfully seek to become a permanent resident of the U.S.
4. Enter the U.S. and perform for payment or prize money.

Length of a P-1 Work Visa

A person may be allowed to stay in the U.S. for up to five years with extensions not to exceed a total stay of ten years.

Essential support personnel

Essential support personnel are eligible for P-1S classification if they are an integral part of the performance of a P-1 nonimmigrant and perform support services that cannot be readily performed by a U.S. worker. Support personnel may include coaches, scouts, trainers, broadcasters, referees, linesmen, umpires, and interpreters.

The petitioner must file a separate Form I-129 for essential support personnel. The petition must include the following documents:

• A consultation from an appropriate labor organization with expertise in the area of the essential support person’s skill;
• A statement describing the essential support person’s prior and current essentiality, critical skills, and experience with the P-1 athlete or team (unless coming to work in a Major League Sport); and
• A copy of a written contract between the employer and the essential support personnel or a summary of the terms of the oral agreement under which the essential support personnel will be employed.

Change of Employer

If you are a professional P-1 athlete who is traded from one organization to another organization, your employment authorization will automatically continue for a period of 30 days after acquisition by the new organization, within which time the new organization must file a new Form I-129 for P-1 nonimmigrant classification.

In all other situations, you may change employers, but the new employer, your agent, or your sponsor must first file a new Form I-129 with USCIS requesting permission to employ you and extend your stay. You may not start working for the new employer until USCIS has approved the new Form I-129.

For a FREE case evaluation, please call us at (602) 636-1200