What Are P-Visas?

Below is information on P-Visas and who qualifies. For help applying or to learn more contact a P Visa lawyer in DC today for a consultation.

P visas are reserved for people who are in the entertainment field. It’s for internationally recognized athletes, entertainers, or performers. You can qualify as an artist or entertainer for both the P visa and the O visa, but there are many people that would qualify for the O visa like scientists or researchers or academics that would not qualify for the P visa because it’s limited to the arts, entertainments, and athletics.

1. The P-1 visa is for internationally recognized athletes. The P-1B is for members of an internationally-recognized entertainment group.
2. The P-2 is an individual performer – an artistic performer or someone who’s part of a group who’s entering to perform a reciprocal exchange program, which is similar to a cultural exchange program.
3. Finally, a P-3 is an artist or entertainer that’s coming to be a part of a culturally unique program. This can seem like a broad requirement, but it’s basically for people coming to perform some sort of culturally significant thing from their home country throughout the U.S.

P-3 Visas for Culturally Unique Programs

How one proves the visit is to further understanding or development really depends on the case. It’s very case specific because there’s such a broad range of activity that this visa can apply to. But, basically, to prove this to the government you’ll want to submit things like copies of any agreements or written contracts showing that you’ve been hired to do these performances in the United States and what kind of performances they are. You also want to show proof of your achievements in the field. So if you’re entering as a dancer or part of the dance troupe, then you’re going to want to show letters of support or reviews that show that you really are a culturally significant type of program. You can also submit salary evidence like you can for the O visa, showing what you’re paid well for what you do, although that’s not a requirement.

Proving International Recognition

Proving that the visit is to further understanding or development is a little bit less rigorous than proving extraordinariness or international recognition, especially because you can be a part of a group for this. For instance, if you’re part of the dance team you’re going to have to prove the cultural significance or the international recognition of the group as a whole and not of each individual performer in the group.

Also, a huge difference between the P and the O is that you don’t actually have to prove extraordinary ability for the P visa. You just have to be internationally recognized.

Talk to an Immigration Lawyer to Learn More

There’s always more to learn and about the constantly-evolving entertainment field and what might pass for an acceptable P visa. When you work with an immigration attorney who understands these sorts of visa applications and the administrative concerns that accompany them, you give yourself a chance at receiving the desired results. Call our law offices today to speak with a lawyer.