RunRagged wrote:
But a P-1 visa isn't supposed to be for training purposes, is it? US gov says P-1 visa is for an "Individual or Team Athlete, or Member of an Entertainment Group" for the specific purposes of allowing them
To perform at a specific athletic competition as an athlete or as a member of an entertainment group. Requires an internationally recognized level of sustained performance. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
100% that was the intent of the P1 in its creation. Practically speaking that's changed though and the p1 is the cheapest, easiest way to get an athlete into the USA to train and compete with a group. Every shoe company I know uses P1 visas for foreign athletes. They'll structure the application such that the athlete is set to perform at a series of US based meets and will train in the US ahead of time to prepare.
E.g. Nike will say "Jimmy is a world class athlete here to prepare for then compete at the 2022 Nike Prefontaine Classic, the 2022 World Championships, the 2023 Prefontaine Classic, the 2024 Prefontaine Classic" when applying for an athlete's 3 year P1. New Balance say similar but will have NB indoor games listed as a sponsored event.
So it meets the criteria of the P1, and it isn't a lie, but the main benefit for both the sponsor and the athlete is in the training situation surrounding competition not the competition itself.
Pre pandemic these visas could take under 6 weeks for the big companies to procure, but have heard athletes waiting up to 6 months these days.
