USCIS Clarifies Period Of Authorized Stay For P-1S Essential Support Personnel Of Individual Athletes
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated
its Adjudicators Field Manual to emphasize that, under
current regulations, the periods of initial authorized stay are
different for individual athletes (P-1A visa) and their essential
support personnel (P-1S visa).
The P-1S classification is for “Essential Support
Personnel” who are an integral part of the performance of a
P-1 individual athlete, and who perform support services that
cannot be readily performed by a U.S. worker.
- Under existing DHS regulations, P-1Aindividual athletes have an initial period of authorized
stay of up to 5 years, while their P-1S essential support personnel
have an initial authorized stay limited to the period of
time necessary to complete the sporting event, but not to exceed 1
year.
- USCIS also may authorize visaextension petitions for P-1S essential support personnel for a
period necessary to complete the event, not to exceed 5 years, for
a total period of stay not to exceed 10 years.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.