O-1 Visa or EB-1 in the Sports Industry

Extraordinary Ability Visas for Athletes and Sports Professionals

Foreign athletes, coaches, and sports professionals seeking to work in the United States generally pursue one of two extraordinary-ability pathways — the temporary O-1 visa or the permanent EB-1 green card:

• O-1: The nonimmigrant (temporary) visa for individuals with extraordinary ability.
• EB-1: The immigrant visa (green card), specifically the EB-1A extraordinary-ability category.

This webinar is essential if you are a foreign athlete, sports professional, or representative who intends to bring foreign athletes into the U.S.

OnlineVisas has a long track record in sports immigration success, having helped people involved in at least fifty different sports to pursue their sporting careers in the U.S. for nearly 30 years.

Throughout this sixty-minute webinar, you will discover:

• Who can qualify for an extraordinary ability visa (note: athletes, coaches, administrators, and support personnel);
• The different types of criteria to prove;
• How USCIS evaluate awards and successes;
• The various levels of evidence: primary, secondary, and tertiary evidence;
• Why letters from experts in the field rarely succeed;
• How to use exposure in media, the kinds of media recognition, and which types to avoid;
• Inside tips for solidifying evidence and the pitfalls that could invalidate proof.

OnlineVisas’ CEO and lead attorney, Jon Velie, joins Bobby Hacker, President of the Sports Lawyers Association, to explore the secrets of winning EB-1 extraordinary ability visas for the United States.

O-1 Visa Forms and Filing Fees for Athletes

• Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker: This is the main petition form that must be filed by the employer or agent of the O-1 visa applicant. The filing fee for this form is $460.
• Form I-797, Notice of Action: This form is used to notify the O-1 visa applicant of the decision on their petition.
• Form DS-160, Nonimmigrant Visa Application: This form is used to apply for a nonimmigrant visa, such as the O-1 visa. The filing fee for this form is $160.
• Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record: This form is used to track the arrival and departure of nonimmigrant visa holders, including O-1 visa holders

MOST FREQUENTLY USED O-1 IN SPORT INDUSTRY VISAS FORMS

Form I-797

Form I-485

Form DS-160

• Cost $0

• Receipt Notice 4-6 weeks

• Filed by the Applicant

• Notice of Action

• Cost $460

• Fees in USD

• Filed on behalf of Employer

• Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker

• Cost $160 – $190

• Fees in USD

• Filed by the Applicant

• Proof of Financial Resources

Frequently Asked Questions