The United States has long been a magnet for top athletes from around the world who want to train with its state of the art facilities. While many of these athletes come to the country on P-1 and O-1 visas, there are a significant number that also wish to become permanent residents. For that, they must meet the requirement of EB-1 employment-based immigration: first preference (Green Card). The requirements for this type of visa mirror those for the O-1 visa but differ in two important ways: the requirement for sustained international acclaim and the absence of the need to show labor certification or a job offer.
EB1 Green Card for Sports Athletes: A Complete Guide
Eb1 green card sports athletes require that the applicant have demonstrated “sustained national or international acclaim” for their sport. Achieving this goal can be difficult for some athletes, but there are many ways to accomplish the task. For example, major championships, awards from prestigious and reputable organizations, government-issued awards such as master of the sport, appearance in halls of fame, and articles and published materials written about the athlete are all excellent ways to satisfy this criterion.
Athletes and coaches who have created training manuals, new techniques, special strategies, videos, and workshops that are well-attended can also meet this criterion. The criterion for written work is a bit more difficult to establish but can be satisfied through essays, news articles, books, and other works authored by the athlete or coach that have been published in reputable media outlets.