Phoenix P-Visa Lawyer

The U.S. offers several categories of visas for people who want to temporarily travel to the United States. One of these visa types is the P-visa, which allows athletes, artists, entertainers, and others to visit the U.S.

If you need to travel to the U.S. to compete or perform, a local visa attorney at New Frontier Immigration Law handles your case. We can listen to your goals and help you determine if a Phoenix P-visa can provide insight to get you or a family member through the immigration process.

Types of P-Visas

The P-visa comes in multiple different subgroups as described further below. Note that it is a non-immigrant visa, so it only permits people to stay in the U.S. for a specific defined period. However, it is considered a dual intent visa, so an immigrant may apply for adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence (i.e., a green card) without it being interpreted as false representation.

P-1A Visa

The P-1A visa is for people coming to the U.S. for a specific athletic competition. This can include:

• Individual internationally-recognized athletes;
• Groups or teams who are internationally-recognized;
• Professional athletes;
• Athletes or coaches who are competing with a team or franchise located in the U.S. and that is a member of a foreign league.

The P-1A classification also applies to professional or amateur athletes who plan to perform in a theatrical ice skating production or tour in the U.S. Call our P-visa attorney in Phoenix if you have questions about whether you qualify.

P-1B Visa

The P-1B classification applies to members of internationally-recognized entertainment groups who have a high level of achievement in their field. The group must have been established for at least one year and at least 75% of the members must have been involved with the group for at least a year as well. An example could be a pop band where at least three out of the four members had been in the band for at least a year.

One important exception is that all circus performers can apply for this visa even if they do not meet the one year requirement or the internationally recognized requirement as long as they are coming to the U.S. to join a nationally recognized circus.

P-2 Visa

The P-2 classification is for artists and entertainers who are traveling to the U.S. as part of a reciprocal exchange program. At this time, it must be one of five government-recognized programs including:

• The American Federation of Musicians (U.S.) and the American Federation of Musicians (Canada);
• Actor’s Equity Association (U.S.) and the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association;
• Actor’s Equity Association (U.S.) and the British Actors’ Equity Association;
• The International Council of Air Shows and the Canadian Air Show Association;
• The Alliance of Canadian Cinema Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) and the Screen Actor Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

The P-2 visa is part of the U.S. government’s cultural exchange initiative. Thanks to this visa, artists from other countries can more easily collaborate with American artists and entertain U.S. audiences.

Other P-Visas in Phoenix

The P-3 visa is for anyone visiting the U.S. to perform, teach, or coach under a program considered “culturally unique.” These programs can include traditional ethnic, folk, cultural, musical, theatrical, or artistic performances or presentations.

Finally, P-4 visas are for the family members of P-1, P-2, and P-3 visas. There are also P-visa types available for necessary support staff.

Reach Out to Our Phoenix Attorneys to Discuss a P-Visa Application

If a P-visa can help you travel to the U.S. or make it possible for you to bring an athlete, performer, or other entertainer to the U.S., New Frontier Immigration Law can help. Our Phoenix attorney can work with you to discuss getting a P-visa and come up with an immigration plan that meets your needs. Contact us today for more information.