How Can Athletes Come to the United States During COVID-19 Restictions and Consular Issues?
Sherrod Sports Visas is successfully bringing the world’s best athletes, coaches, and training staff to the United States, even with the dire circumstances presented by COVID-19. Obtaining entry to the United States for athletic purposes is possible, but each case is fact-specific. Due to the amount of inquiries we have received from the sports industry, we have documented the steps necessary to enter the United States.
Step 1: Obtain B-1 | P-1 | or O-1 Visa Approval
The first step in the process is to obtain an approval for a visa. For athletes and coaches, this visa is typically a B-1/B-2 visitor visa, a P-1 visa for athletes or major league coaches, or an O-1 visa. The appropriate visa for you depends on if you are getting paid, your purpose for coming, and your background.
Helpful links:
Step 2: Complete DS-160 Application and Set a Visa Appointment
After obtaining an approval, you will need to complete a DS-160 application with the Department of State to select an interview date. The interview date will probably be very far in the future because many consulates are currently closed. Do not worry about the date because we will work on the interview date in the next step.
Complete steps for DS-160 are available here: https://www.sherrodsportsvisas.com/p1-o1-visa-approval
Our offices can be of assistance for filling out DS-160 forms - Please use this link to request DS-160 assistance. www.sherrodsportsvisas.com/ds160
If no appointments are available at your consulate, please call our Charlotte office at 704-243-8178.
Step 3: Pursue Interview Expedite with Consular Office with Congressional Assistance
Step 4: COVID-19 Travel Ban Waiver with Sports National Interest Exemption
The next step may be the most challenging part of the process. To advance the interview process, we help prepare an emergency request to the consular post to move up the interview date to as soon as possible. This decision is at the discretion of the consular office, but we help put our client’s best foot forward. We help to explain the importance of sports to the national interest of the United States, economic impact of the event, and world competition implications for the event. In addition, we strongly encourage clients to take advantage of our new congressional services to increase the likelihood of success.
Sherrod Sports Visas has hired the services of a consular processing specialist who has previous experience within the United States government to obtain congressional inquiries for our clients. Most congressional offices at the federal level have a liaison who makes direct contact with consulates abroad to indicate priority cases and obtain case status. These contacts increase the likelihood that the consular office will take the case seriously.
If you are part of a major sports league such as the NHL, NBA, NFL, or PGA; your organization may also be able to contact the White House as described in Step 4 for assistance with an expedited interview.
If you are traveling from a country that is listed on the United States COVID-19 travel ban, there is an extra step even after the visa interview process. You must obtain a waiver from United States Customs and Border Patrol to travel to the United States when leaving from a country that is subject to the COVID-19 Ban.
A list of these countries can be found at this link:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html
The good news for athletes is that the Presidential Administration has issued a National Interest Exemption for Sports. To take advantage of this exemption, there are two options:
Present a 212(f) waiver to the Customs and Border Patrol Chief on duty at your point of entry to the United States
If you are in a Major Sports League, you can ask for your organization to add you to the exemption list made by Andrew Guiliani who is the Whitehouse Sports Liaison
A breakdown of the 212(f) Waiver process is available at this link
https://www.sherrodsportsvisas.com/sports-travel-ban-exemption