American Immigration Lawyers
Khan Law, PLLC
555 Republic Drive, Floor 2, Suite 214
Plano, TX 75074
Office: (469) 200-6508
WhatsApp: (469) 200-6508
Email: info@khanlegalgroup.com
U.S. immigration law, serving clients
in all 50 states and worldwide.
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Tell us your story. We’ll tell you which of these paths actually fits your life, before you spend a dollar.
The Visa Guide ยท Work
P-1 Athletes &
Entertainers
Take the stage.
The P category brings internationally recognized athletes, teams, and entertainment groups to compete and perform in the U.S., with related categories for reciprocal exchanges (P-2) and culturally unique programs (P-3).
Who Qualifies
Recognized. Worldwide.
Five things make or break a P case: the recognition, the group, the category, the engagements, and the consultation.
P-1A: athletes and teams
International recognition, shown by major-league contracts, national team participation, rankings, or significant honors.
P-1B: entertainment groups
Internationally recognized for a sustained time, with 75% of members together at least one year.
P-2 and P-3
Reciprocal exchange artists and culturally unique performers.
Real U.S. engagements
U.S. events, competitions, or performances requiring the principal’s participation.
The consultation
A written consultation from the appropriate labor organization.
The Process
Five steps. One tour.
The evidence
Assemble recognition evidence: contracts, rankings, press, awards, and the event itinerary.
The consultation
Obtain the labor-organization consultation letter.
The petition
The U.S. employer, agent, or sponsor files Form I-129 with the P supplement, including P-1S essential support personnel: coaches, trainers, crew.
The visa
Consular processing (DS-160) for those abroad.
The admission
Athletes up to 5 years, extendable to 10; groups and support staff per event or tour, up to 1 year at a time. Top individual performers should also weigh the O-1.
Forms & Fees
Know the paperwork.
The P petition with the P supplement, filed by the U.S. employer, agent, or sponsor
The classification for essential support personnel: coaches, trainers, and crew
The consular visa application for those processing abroad
Season starting soon?
Premium processing is available for the P category. Check current costs and timing on the official USCIS fee schedule below before the tour calendar locks.
Live processing times & fees
Government numbers change monthly. These official tools are always current:
Your talent.
Our fight.
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The Rules
What you can and cannot do.
- Compete, perform, and tour for every event on the petitioned itinerary
- Cover a whole team or group with one petition naming up to 25 people
- Accept salary and prize money for the petitioned competitions and shows
- Bring a spouse and children under 21 on P-4 status; they can study
- Take side gigs, coaching jobs, or appearances outside the petition
- Add new events or employers without an amended or new filing
- Work on P-4 status; a spouse needs a separate work visa to be employed
- Self-petition; a U.S. employer, agent, or sponsor must file for you
Costs
What it costs in 2026.
The employer, agent, or sponsor pays the petition side; the athlete or performer pays the consular side. One I-129 petition can name up to 25 team or group members, which keeps per-athlete costs low for full squads, and nonprofit and small sponsors pay reduced rates. At the consulate, the long-standing application fee now travels with the newer $250 visa integrity fee, charged when the visa is issued.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Petition (Form I-129, P categories) | $1,015 | $510 for nonprofits and small employers (25 or fewer full-time staff); one filing covers up to 25 named beneficiaries |
| Asylum Program Fee | $600 | Paid with the I-129; $300 for small employers, $0 for nonprofits |
| Premium processing (optional) | $2,965 | Government action within 15 days; rate effective March 1, 2026 |
| Visa application (MRV) | $205 per person | Petition-based rate, paid when booking the consular interview |
| Visa integrity fee | $250 per person | Charged at visa issuance; phasing in since October 2025; adjusts with inflation |
Fee amounts reflect published government figures as of August 2026 and change over time; the live links above are always current. Petition fees are paid once per filing; consular fees apply per person, including P-4 family members.
FAQ
Questions we hear every week.
Can the whole team travel on one petition?
Yes. A single P petition can name up to 25 athletes or group members, with the P-1S classification covering the essential staff around them. Larger delegations simply split across additional filings, planned so everyone lands before the first event.
Should a star athlete pick P-1 or O-1?
P-1 fits team-driven careers, leagues, and tours. The O-1 rewards individual acclaim, has no group requirement, and can be renewed indefinitely in one-year increments. For elite individuals we often build the record both ways and file the stronger case.
What happens if I am traded mid-season?
The rules give traded professional athletes a brief automatic window to keep playing for the new team while it files a fresh petition. The window is short, so the new filing should start the day the trade does.
Can my spouse work on P-4 status?
No. P-4 allows school but not employment. A spouse who wants to work needs an independent work visa, and it is worth mapping those options before the move rather than after.
The tour added dates after approval. Now what?
Material changes to events, venues, or employers need an amended petition before the new work happens. Agents who file itinerary-based petitions can build in flexibility, which is why the choice of petitioner matters more than most groups expect.
Do P-1 years count toward a green card?
Not automatically; P status is temporary by design. But the same record of international recognition that wins a P-1 often grows into an employment-based green card case, and nothing about P status prevents pursuing one.