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Entertainment Profession and Athletes FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Entertainment Profession and Athletes

 

I'm a professional tennis player/ golfer/racing car driver. What type of visa do I require? 

If you are competing in a tournament or sporting event for which you will receive no salary or payment from a U.S source, other than prize money, you will require a B-1 visa. If your proposed activities are not exactly as described, you will require an O or P visa.

I'm accompanying a professional golfer/racing car driver to the United States. What type of visa do I require?

If you are a caddy who is customarily employed by the golfer and not just hired to accompany him or her for this particular tournament, the golfer is competing in tournaments for prize money only and you will continue to be paid by your employer, you will require a B-1 visa.

A B-1 visa is also appropriate for a racing car mechanic or engineer customarily employed and paid by the racing team, who is a normal and necessary component of the entourage accompanying a driver who is competing for prize money only.

If the professional golfer or racing car driver is applying for an O or P visa, you should apply for an O-2 or P-1 visa to accompany him or her.

We are a professional football team traveling to the United States to play a match. What type of visa do we require?

Provided the income of the team and salary of the players is principally accrued in a foreign country, you will require B-1 visas.

I'm a professional football player who has been signed up by a U.S. football team to play a match/ for a season. What type of visa do I require?

You will require an O or P visa.

I'm a professional boxer. What type of visa do I require?

Professional boxers require O or P visas.

I'm a jockey/groom. What type of visa do I require?

Provided you are employed by a foreign employer to perform services on behalf of your employer as a jockey and your salary will continue to be paid by that employer, you will require a B-1 visa.

I'm a crewmember of a yacht that is in an international competition. What type of visa do I require?

Provided you are employed by a foreign employer and your salary will continue to be paid by that employer, you will require a B-1 visa. Amateur crewmembers also qualify for the B-1 visa.

We are a professional theatre group performing at an international festival in the U.S. What type of visa do we require?

Unless the company is participating in a cultural program sponsored by the sending country; or participating in a competition for which there is no remuneration, other than a prize (monetary or otherwise) and expenses, O or P visas are required.

I'm a disc jockey who is contracted to perform in the U.S.; what type of visa do I require?

You require an O visa.

We are musicians who are recording in the United States; what type of visas do we require?

A B-1 visa, or visa free travel is appropriate if you will utilize recording facilities for recording purposes only; the recording will be distributed and sold only outside the United States; and, there will be no public performances.

We are a choir who has been invited to perform in the United States; what type of visa do we require?

If you are all amateurs and you will be performing in a social and/or charitable context, you will require B-2 visa, or if eligible may travel visa free under the visa waiver program. Please note: An amateur is someone who normally performs without remuneration (other than an allotment for expenses). A performer who is normally compensated for performing cannot qualify for a B-2 visa or travel under the Visa Waiver Program even if they do not make a living at performing.

How long does the process take?

Important Note: Petition-based visas: Prospective employers, sponsors or agents should file the petition(s) as soon as possible to provide adequate time for petition and subsequent visa processing. Should you need petition processing faster, see  Premium Processing Service on USCIS website. 

Can the Embassy inform me about the status of a petition filed with USCIS? 

No. The Embassy cannot inform you about the status of a petition pending approval with USCIS.  However, once you receive a application reference number from USCIS, you can check Case Status Online.  You may also review the Petition Processing Times with USCIS.