Visa for athletes and artists in the United States

Visa for Athletes and Artistslegal assistancefrom 450 USD

Visa for Athletes and Artists (P/O)

• Category P Visas
• Category O Visas

• More details

  Additional charges apply

  • from $160 – consular fee, payable at the embassy’s exchange rate
  • from $50 – additional legal consultation
  • from $950 – petition filing with USCIS

  We begin our work by reviewing the case, consulting, and developing a strategy.

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Yulia Golinevich

Immigration Attorney

Examples of U.S. Visas Obtained Through Vizaus Visa Center

Video Guide for Obtaining a U.S. Visa

The visa for athletes and artists in the U.S. can vary in category depending on the individual specifics of your case and the specific purposes of your trip. It can be obtained at the American embassy by submitting documents and undergoing an interview. You can prepare for obtaining a stay permit in the country on your own or use the services of our company. The advantage of consulting specialists is the guarantee of a successful outcome, as consultants have extensive experience in resolving even the most complex conflict situations at the visa center and are happy to share it with you.

U.S. Visas of Category O

The O visa category is suitable for representatives of science, arts, education, motion picture and television, business, and sports who have achievements in their respective fields. It includes the following types:

1. O1 is issued for individuals who possess extraordinary abilities in specific fields or have achieved significant results in their respective areas and are traveling to the U.S. to continue their work.
2. O2 is needed for accompanying individuals to assist the O1 visa holder during a cultural or sporting event. This type does not apply to scientists, business professionals, or educators.
3. O3 is available for spouses and children who wish to join the O1/O2 visa holder. Holders of this visa category are not permitted to work in the United States.

To obtain a visa in this category, the applicant must meet at least three of the following criteria:

• you have received awards or prizes recognized at an international or national level;
• you are a member of organizations that require outstanding achievements for membership;
• your achievements have been published in the media;
• you are the author of scholarly articles published in professional or specialized journals;
• participation as a member of a jury or expert panel at competitions and awards where the work of other specialists was evaluated;
• high salary;
• you have made discoveries or original scientific contributions in your professional field;
• experience working in key positions in an organization with an outstanding reputation related to your activity.

For more details, visit: www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/o-1-visa-individuals-extraordinary-ability-or-achievement

U.S. Visas of Category P

The P visa category is issued to Ukrainian citizens for participation in specific cultural or sporting events. It includes the following types:

1. P1 is issued for participants in international competitions, as well as their accompanying persons. Additionally, this visa applies to performances by entertainment groups recognized on the world stage.
2. P2 is granted to artists or cultural figures, both solo and groups, planning to visit America under an exchange program between countries.
3. P3 is ideal for artists or entertainers traveling to the United States individually or as part of a group for performances, teaching, or training as part of a specific cultural program.
4. P4 is issued to spouses and children of P1/P2/P3 visa holders. Holders of this visa category are not permitted to work in the United States.

It should be noted that entertainers receive entry permission only for participation in specific cultural events.

U.S. Visa of Category B1

Some athletes and artists may visit America on a B1 visa. This can be done by:

1. Professional athletes who, apart from prize money for participation, do not receive other awards. These may include, for example, race car drivers or golfers.
2. Athletes and team members traveling to America from another country for competitions, provided they have their primary place of activity in their home country and receive the main income of the team as a whole, as well as individual salaries for each member. The team from another country must be part of an international sports league or participate in world-class sporting events.
3. Amateur hockey players invited by professional teams to participate in regular season matches or playoff qualifying games. This includes individuals with a memorandum of agreement with the main team of the National Hockey League (NHL).
4. Entertainers planning to participate in a cultural program sponsored by the sending country or on a charitable basis. All associated expenses for the visit are covered by the performer’s home country.

Features of Obtaining a U.S. Visa for Athletes and Artists

The cultural and sports visa to the U.S. is processed at the American embassy in the same manner as any other visa. However, before submitting the documents required for the interview, you must obtain approval of the petition, Form I-129, from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You also need to prepare an explanatory letter with the contact details of the event, employment conditions in the country, and financial compensation terms. Then, with the completed set of documents, you need to visit the consulate and undergo an interview with a consular officer.

When submitting documents for a group, the interview appointment must also be made as a group. This option is possible if all applicants are traveling to the same place at the same time. This process has some features. For instance, only one profile is created for the trip coordinator, which includes all information for the other applicants. With this submission, the entire group is scheduled for the same interview time.

Additionally, upon returning from the United States, within two weeks, the coordinator must contact the embassy to confirm that all group members have successfully returned from the trip.

For more details, visit: www.ustraveldocs.com/ua_ru/ua-svc-groupappointment.asp

Processing Times and Costs for a U.S. Visa

An American visa can be obtained within 90 days. The process of preparing the document package takes about a week, and the remaining time is spent on processing your application at the embassy and decision-making by its staff. In some cases, an expedited visa can be issued, but this requires significant reasons, and the cost of such processing will be higher than usual. Overall, the cost of a visit permit depends on the complexity of your case and the level of required support. The consular fee is paid separately for each visa.