P-1/P-2/P-3
P-1 Visa:
These visas are granted for performance at specific athletic competitions, individually or as part of a group or team, at an international level. The P-1 visa is also for a foreign national who will perform with, or as an integral and essential part of the performance of, an entertainment group that has been recognized "internationally" as being outstanding, who has been with the group usually for at least one year, and who is integral to the performance. International recognition is defined as “a degree of skill and recognition substantially above that ordinarily encountered, to the extent that such achievement is renowned, leading or well-known in more than one country”.
The COMPETE Act of 2006 expanded the categories of persons eligible for P-1 classification to encompass all athletes who are members of certain professional leagues, athletes and coaches who participate in certain amateur leagues, and athletes who participate in theatrical ice skating productions.
P-1 classification may be accorded alien members of entertainment groups, provided the aliens perform with an entertainment group that has been recognized internationally as outstanding in the discipline for a sustained and substantial period of time. Each alien must have had a sustained and substantial relationship with the group ordinarily of at least a year (with exceptions discussed below) and be entering the United States solely to perform or entertain in conjunction with the group. The proposed services must require an internationally recognized entertainment group. P-1 status is granted on the basis of the group’s reputation, not on the basis of individual achievement
P-2 Visa:
This classification is for a foreign national who will perform as an artist or entertainer, individually or as part of a group, or perform as an integral part of the performance of such a group, and who seeks to perform under a "reciprocal exchange program." These programs involve organizations in the United States and overseas that provide for the temporary exchange of entertainers, groups, and individual artists.
P-3 Visa:
These visas are for an artist or entertainer who is coming either individually or as part of a group to perform, teach, or coach in a program that is culturally unique. This includes commercial programs such as singers from Mexico or India performing in their language.
P-3 classification is accorded to culturally unique artists and entertainers, individually or as a group, coming to the United States to develop, interpret, represent, coach, or teach their particular art or discipline. .
The P-3 category allows the creative practitioner to devise a P-3 application for many different types of artists, which is especially helpful in this age of increasing multiculturalism in the arts. P-3 activities may be conducted in the context of commercial or noncommercial programs.
Our Attorneys have extensive experience with filing successful P visa Petitions. For more information regarding P visa or for specific case evaluation please contact our office.
