P Visas For Athletes & Entertainers
The Immigration and Nationality Act provides several categories of nonimmigrant visas for a person who wishes to work temporarily in the United States. The P-1 classification applies to an alien coming to the U.S. temporarily to perform at a specific athletic competition as an athlete, individually or as part of a group or team, at an internationally recognized level of performance. The P-2 classification applies to an alien coming temporarily to perform as an artist or entertainer individually or as part of a group, who will perform under a reciprocal exchange program between an organization in the U.S. and an organization in another country. The P-3 classification applies to aliens coming temporarily to perform, teach or coach as artists or entertainers, individually or as part of a group, under a program that is culturally unique.
USCIS Petition
In order to be considered as a nonimmigrant under the above classifications the applicant's prospective employer or agent must file Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security (USCIS). It is very important for prospective employers to file the petition as soon as possible (but not more than 6 months before the proposed employment will begin) to provide adequate time for petition and subsequent visa processing. Should you need petition processing faster, premium processing is available for an additional fee. Once approved, the employer or agent is sent a notice of approval, Form I-797. It should be noted that the approval of a petition shall not guarantee visa issuance to an applicant found to be ineligible under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
How We Serve Our Clients
Our dynamic and knowledgeable attorneys will consult with you to determine that the nature of the offered position and the foreign candidate's background are appropriate for this particular visa. We will also recommend possible alternative strategies if the foreign beneficiary's experience renders them ineligible for this visa category. Our attorneys work closely with both the employer and prospective employee to ensure that the required documents are rendered and all legal issues addressed. We relieve human resources personnel of the burdensome paperwork requirements by preparing all required forms and supporting documents for submission to the appropriate government departments and agencies. When required, we also prepare and file applications for dependent family members to ensure a smooth transition to the United States for the prospective employee and dependent family members. Our staff is easily accessible by both the employer and foreign beneficiary to answer questions as they arise.
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