Visa Assistance for Professional Football Players

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Visa Assistance for Professional Football Players

Attorneys Ready to Help You Tackle Your Dreams in the United States

American football is a favorite hobby that’s becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Foreign nationals with hopes of one day playing in the United States are able to pursue their dreams through a few different visas, making the opportunities plentiful. Still, despite the availability of these visas, the process remains complex, making it important to recruit legal assistance.


Whether your dream is to play for the National Football League or the Xtreme Football League, our team can help. Our lawyers will carefully evaluate your case, paying attention to your ambitions and prior experience to decide on the path most likely to help you achieve your goals. From there, we will walk you through the entire process with an unwavering dedication to helping you obtain your visa.

Call Oakhurst Legal Group to discuss your athletic ambitions and learn more about how we can help you achieve them: 704-243-8178.

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O-1 Visas for Football Players

O-1 visas are available to athletes with extraordinary abilities who are deemed the very best in their sports. The visas require an individual to not only participate in a league like the NFL, but to excel in it. They should be at the same skill and recognition levels as Jerry Rice or Tom Brady, for example.


The O-1 visa’s duration varies depending on the athlete and the length of the tournament or season they’re participating in. It could last for a maximum of three years. Still, athletes may apply for extensions for up to one year at a time. There is no limit to how many times one can apply for an extension of stay under the O-1 visa.

P-1 Visas for Football Players

If you haven’t quite reached the fame and recognition level of players like Lawrence Taylor, you may still be able to play football professionally in the United States with a P-1 visa. To qualify, the athlete must be internationally recognized and coming to the United States to participate in a distinguished league or competition. The player should be well-known in more than one country.


P-1 visas for individual athletes are valid for up to five years and can be extended for up to five more. The total length of time the athlete spends in the United States under a P-1 visa cannot exceed ten years.

B-2 Visas for Amateur Football Players

Amateur athletes can travel to play football in the United States as well. If you are competing in a low-level football tournament without earning payment beyond incidentals, you could qualify for a B-2 visa. This visa allows recreational players to come as visitors for up to six months.

Potential Barriers for Foreign Athletes

Sports visas are frequently procured by the team an athlete signs with. This makes their stay in the United States dependent on their employment status with that particular team. So, if the team terminates the player’s contract, that player’s visa will become invalid after 30 days. At this point, the athlete must find a different avenue to legally extend their stay or prepare to leave the country.


By pursuing a sports visa independently with the help of an attorney, an athlete’s stay in the country is not riding on the longevity of their career with one given team. This allows the individual to play football in the country without fear of their stay being jeopardized.

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