Athletes And Entertainers: P/O

Visa Overview

The O-1 non-immigrant visa is for the individual who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements.

The P non-immigrant visa class is used when the beneficiary of the visa petition is an internationally recognized entertainment group, individual athlete, or athletic team. An “entertainment group” consists of two or more persons who function as a unit that has been in existence for a minimum of one year. In addition, at least 75% of the members of the group must have performed entertainment services for the group for a minimum of one year. The “P” visa category also covers foreign entertainers and artists coming to the U.S. to participate in a reciprocal exchange program or a culturally unique program.