The Immigration Problem
Jimmy, a young and highly talented competitive motocross racer from Canada, frequently traveled to the U.S. to participate in motocross events. When a major U.S. company offered to sponsor Jimmy’s training and competition, his parents wanted to find a way for him to live and train in the U.S. legally. However, they also had another concern—Jimmy’s father, Mike, had always accompanied him to events, providing crucial technical and logistical support. The family needed a solution that would allow both Jimmy and Mike to stay in the U.S. legally.
The Result
VisaPro’s attorneys assessed Jimmy’s racing career and determined that he was an excellent candidate for the P-1A Athlete Visa, which is designed for internationally recognized athletes. Additionally, we established that Mike qualified for a P-1S Visa as essential support personnel, allowing him to remain in the U.S. to continue supporting Jimmy’s training and competition needs.
Inquiry Into The Background
Jimmy’s journey in motocross started at a very young age. By the time he was 8 years old, he was already ranked among the top racers in Canada in his age group. As he continued to rise through the ranks, he began competing in U.S. motocross events by the time he was 13. His rapid success caught the attention of major sponsors who wanted to support his full-time training and competition in the U.S.
Until then, Jimmy and Mike had traveled to the U.S. on visitor visas since Canadians do not require a visa for short visits. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, cross-border travel restrictions were imposed. The 2020 motocross season was completely canceled, and U.S. immigration officials began limiting visitor entries. Eventually, U.S. work visa holders were allowed to enter, prompting Jimmy and his family to seek a long-term immigration solution.
Analysis Of The Problem
VisaPro conducted a thorough assessment of Jimmy’s qualifications and Mike’s role as a support professional, leading to the following determinations:
- Jimmy’s P-1A Eligibility: Given his ranking among the top motocross athletes in Canada, letters of recommendation from industry experts, and a support letter from the sport’s U.S. governing body, Jimmy met the criteria for a P-1A Visa for internationally recognized athletes.
- Mike’s Critical Role as Support Personnel: Since Jimmy was under 17 years old, his parents were not comfortable sending him to the U.S. alone. More importantly, Mike was essential to Jimmy’s training and competitions:
- He maintained and prepared two racing vehicles – one for practice and one for competition.
- He managed all mechanical and logistical aspects, ensuring Jimmy was race-ready.
- He drove their custom trailer across the country, transporting Jimmy’s motorcycles and equipment to each event.
Recognizing the importance of Mike’s role, VisaPro determined that he qualified for a P-1S visa as essential support personnel, enabling him to accompany Jimmy and continue assisting in his career development.
VisaPro’s Successful Solution
VisaPro meticulously prepared both the P-1A petition for Jimmy and the P-1S petition for Mike. Our team:
- Worked closely with Jimmy’s parents and sponsor to collect strong evidence supporting his international recognition in motocross.
- Obtained endorsements and letters of support from top industry experts and the U.S. governing body for motocross.
- Compiled detailed documentation proving Mike’s essential role in Jimmy’s success as a racer.
- Filed the P-1A and P-1S petitions with USCIS, ensuring that both petitions clearly demonstrated their eligibility and necessity.
Both petitions were successfully approved, allowing Jimmy to train and compete in the U.S. while Mike remained by his side, providing the necessary support.
The Ultimate Success
Three years later, as Jimmy continued to rise through the motocross ranks and moved into a higher competition division, VisaPro successfully filed an extension of his P-1A status. Mike’s P-1S status was also renewed, ensuring that Jimmy could continue competing at the highest level with his father’s support.
Conclusion
VisaPro’s expert analysis, strategic planning, and in-depth understanding of athlete and support personnel visas ensured that Jimmy and Mike could continue their journey in the U.S. without interruption.
- P-1A Approval for Jimmy: Securing his status as an internationally recognized athlete allowed him to train and compete in the U.S. legally.
- P-1S Approval for Mike: Proving his essential role enabled him to stay with Jimmy and provide critical support.
- Seamless Extension Process: As Jimmy’s career progressed, VisaPro ensured continued legal status for both father and son.
VisaPro takes pride in crafting customized immigration solutions for athletes, professionals, and their support teams. If you or a family member are seeking an immigration strategy that works, our experienced attorneys are here to help.
Contact VisaPro immigration lawyers today to explore your options!
Click here to add a comment
What VisaPro Customers Are Saying
Knowledgeable, fast, courteous, efficient are all words that describe the services I received from VisaPro. They were very helpful in all phases of the H-1B visa process and they got it right the first time. I have tried other Visa services, but VisaPro is the best by far. VisaPro is the only way to go!"
Raymond Meyers, President, EBOZ, Inc
