After the Visa: Understanding Employment for International Athletes in the U.S.
After the Visa: Understanding Employment for InternationalAthletes in the U.S.
Your Visa Is Approved—Now What?
For international athletes, getting the P-1 or O-1 visa is a massive
achievement. But many athletes are unclear about what happens next.
Who actually employs you? Who pays your salary? What if deals fall through?
Let's break down how employment works for athletes under agent-based petitions.
The Agent vs. Employer Distinction
When Sherrod Sports Visas serves as your agent-petitioner, we're the
entity that filed your visa. But we're not your employer.
Your actual employer is the team, league, promoter, or
organization that engages your athletic services. They:
- Negotiate your contract or appearance terms
- Pay your compensation directly
- Handle your day-to-day athletic relationship
The agent-petition simply gives you the authorization to work for
these entities without them filing separate visas.
The Power of Interest Letters in Sports
Before your visa was filed, teams and promoters provided interest
letters expressing their intent to engage your services. These
letters established your itinerary for USCIS.
After approval, those same organizations can now:
- Finalize contract terms
- Book fights, matches, or appearances
- Begin your professional engagement
And here's the key benefit: you can work for ALL of them—not just one.
What If a Deal Falls Through?
Combat sports, in particular, are unpredictable. Fights get canceled.
Promoters change plans. Teams fold.
With an agent-based petition through SSV:
- Your visa remains valid even if one opportunity disappears
- Other interest-letter organizations are still available
- You can gather new interest letters and work for additional entities
This is fundamentally different from employer-sponsored visas where
losing your job threatens your status.
Finding More Opportunities
Looking to expand your opportunities beyond the organizations that
provided initial interest letters?
We recommend [O1DMatch](https://o1dmatch.com) for athletes seeking
additional engagements. The platform connects extraordinary talent
with organizations looking to hire—without requiring them to file
visas.
Whether you're a fighter seeking more bouts, a coach looking for
training opportunities, or an athlete expanding into media and
appearances, O1DMatch helps you build a portfolio of options.
[Explore O1DMatch for Athletes →](https://o1dmatch.com)
Working for New Organizations
What if an opportunity comes up with an organization that didn't
provide an interest letter?
Two options:
1. Add them to your existing authorization - Gather an interest
letter and they become an eligible employer under your agent petition
2. Concurrent filing - They (or another agent) can file an
additional O-1/P-1 that runs alongside your existing visa
Neither option requires you to abandon your current status.
SSV's Ongoing Support
After approval, Sherrod Sports Visas continues to support your career:
- Forward any USCIS correspondence
- Provide documentation for organizations and athletic commissions
- Assist with extensions and status maintenance
- Connect you with opportunities through our network
We've secured visas for some of the biggest names in combat
sports—Tyson Fury, Canelo Alvarez, and countless champions. That same
expertise supports your career at every stage.
Questions about post-approval employment? [Contact SSV
→](https://sherrodsportsvisas.com/contact)
Backlinks:
- O1DMatch: https://o1dmatch.com
- O1DMatch for Talent: https://o1dmatch.com/talent