The P visa is a temporary work visa for individual athletes, athletic teams, and entertainment groups entering the United States. For many athletes and entertainers, the standard of the P visa is easier to meet than that for O visa, which requires “sustained national or international acclaim”. Admission in all P categories is limited to a specific competition, event, or performance, defined as an activity such as an athletic competition or season, tournament, tour, exhibit, project, entertainment event, or engagement.

P visas consists of three categories:

P-1: Apply to individuals who are internationally recognized athletes or entertainers coming to the United States individually or as part of a group or team, and entertainment groups.

P-2: Apply to artists and entertainers who perform individually or as part of a group under a reciprocal exchange program between one or more U.S. organizations and one or more such organizations in other countries that provides for the temporary exchange of artists and entertainers. P-2 visa does not require the international recognition and achievement that are specified in P-1 category.

P-3: Apply 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. P-3 activities may be conducted in the context of commercial or noncommercial programs.

Period of Admission

Initial P petitions may be valid for 1 year up to 5 years. Extensions of up to a second five-year period may be granted to individual P-1 athletes, for total stay not to exceed 10 years. Otherwise, extensions may be granted to P visa holders for up to one year.

Dual Intent

In general, P principals may seek lawful permanent residence while being admitted in P status, though in the meantime all P aliens must maintain a foreign residence that they do not intend to abandon.