P Visa for Athletes and Entertainers

The P visa is a temporary U.S. work visa for internationally recognized athletes and athletic teams (P-1A), members of internationally recognized entertainment groups (P-1B), artists and entertainers in reciprocal exchange programs (P-2), and culturally unique performers (P-3). It is for people coming to compete or perform at a specific event, season, tour, or program, and it must be requested by a U.S. employer, sponsoring organization, or agent on Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, which USCIS must approve before the athlete or performer can apply for a visa or be admitted.

Professional and elite athletes, sports teams, bands, dance companies, circus and ice show performers, and traditional artists use the P visa. Essential support staff can come with them in P-1S, P-2S, or P-3S status, and spouses and children can come in P-4 status. This page covers the categories, the evidence USCIS requires for each, the labor consultation, who can file, the process, government fees, timing, how long you can stay, family members, what happens when an athlete is traded or a group changes members, the path from a P visa to a green card, and how the P-1 compares with the O-1.

What Is the P Visa?

The P visa is a nonimmigrant classification under INA 101(a)(15)(P) for athletes, artists, and entertainers coming temporarily to perform at a specific event or activity. The eligibility and procedural rules are in 8 CFR 214.2(p), and USCIS officer guidance is in Volume 2, Part N of the USCIS Policy Manual. Unlike a visitor visa, the P visa allows the beneficiary to be paid for competing or performing in the United States, but only for the petitioner and the events described in the approved petition.

Every P case starts with a petition. A U.S. employer, a U.S. sponsoring organization, or a U.S. agent files Form I-129 with USCIS for the athlete, team, or group. The beneficiary cannot self-petition. Once USCIS approves the petition, the beneficiary applies for a P visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate (unless visa-exempt, such as most Canadian citizens) and then seeks admission at a port of entry.

P Visa Categories

The P visa has several categories. Which one fits depends on whether you compete or perform, whether you come as an individual or as part of a team or group, and what kind of program brings you to the United States.

Individual entertainers cannot get P-1B status on their own; P-1B is only for members of a group. A solo performer usually looks at the O-1 visa, the P-2 if an exchange program exists, or the P-3 for traditional and cultural work.

Which category fits? A quick guide

• Individual athlete with international recognition: P-1A (up to 5 years). An athlete with a strong individual record of acclaim may also consider the O-1.
• Athletic team recognized as a unit: P-1A team (up to 1 year).
• Entertainment group performing for at least 1 year, internationally recognized, meeting the 75 percent membership rule: P-1B (up to 1 year). A group that does not meet that test looks at P-2 (if a reciprocal exchange program exists) or P-3 (if the program is culturally unique).
• Solo entertainer: P-3 if the program is culturally unique; P-2 if a reciprocal exchange program covers the person; otherwise the O-1.
• Essential support staff for any of the above: P-1S, P-2S, or P-3S on a separate petition. 
• Spouse and children: P-4.

Benefits of the P Visa

• Work authorization tied to the petition. The beneficiary may compete, perform, coach, or teach for the petitioner (or the employers in an agent-filed petition) as described in the petition, including at the venues and dates on the itinerary, and at comparable engagements added during the validity period.
• Multi-year stays for athletes. An individual P-1A athlete may be admitted for the period needed to complete the event, competition, or season, up to five years initially, with an extension of up to five years, for a total stay of up to 10 years (8 CFR 214.2(p)(8)(iii) and (p)(14)).
• No annual numerical cap. Unlike H-1B, there is no statutory limit on the number of P visas issued each year, so petitions can be filed any time of year.
• Agent petitions and multiple employers. A U.S. agent may petition for a tour with multiple venues or employers, which fits the way touring artists and traveling athletes actually work.
• Dependents can accompany. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 can hold P-4 status and attend school.
• Premium processing available. For an additional fee, USCIS commits to take adjudicative action on the Form I-129 within 15 business days.
• Immigrant filings are not automatically disqualifying for principals. Under 8 CFR 214.2(p)(15), USCIS will not deny a P-1, P-2, or P-3 principal's petition, extension, or change of status solely because an immigrant petition has been filed or a labor certification approved. This does not apply to essential support personnel.
• A discretionary grace period if employment ends early. Under 8 CFR 214.1(l)(2), if a P nonimmigrant's employment ends before the authorized period expires, DHS may, in its discretion, treat the person as not having failed to maintain status for up to 60 consecutive days or until the end of the authorized validity period, whichever is shorter. It is available once per authorized validity period, DHS may shorten or eliminate it in a given case, and it does not authorize employment. It can allow time to seek a new petition, change status, or depart.

P-1 vs O-1: Which Visa Fits?

An individual athlete may qualify for either the P-1A or the O-1, and the right choice depends on the strength of the individual record, how long the athlete needs to be in the United States, and what the athlete plans to do here. An individual entertainer cannot use the P-1B, so the choice for a solo performer is between the O-1 and, where a program fits, the P-2 or P-3.

Some athletes and performers who later want a green card look at the EB-1A extraordinary ability category, which has its own, substantially higher standard. The evidence gathered for a well-documented P-1 or O-1 may be a starting point, but it does not establish EB-1A eligibility. The green card requires a separate immigrant petition (Form I-140) and either Adjustment of Status or consular processing; neither the P-1 nor the O-1 converts to a green card on its own. 

P Visa Requirements

Each category has its own evidence rules in 8 CFR 214.2(p)(4) through (p)(6). This section describes what the regulations require; whether a person or group qualifies depends on the facts and the quality of the evidence.

P-1A Athletes and Athletic Teams

Under 8 CFR 214.2(p)(4)(ii), an individual athlete or a team must be coming to the United States to compete at an internationally recognized level of performance, meaning a high level of achievement in the sport, shown by a degree of skill and recognition substantially above that ordinarily encountered, so that the achievement is renowned, leading, or well known in more than one country. The petition must include:

1. A tendered contract with a major U.S. sports league or team, or a tendered contract in an individual sport that is commensurate with international recognition in that sport, if such contracts are normally used in the sport; and
2. At least two of the following: evidence of significant participation in a prior season with a major U.S. sports league; evidence of participation in international competition with a national team; evidence of significant participation in a prior season for a U.S. college or university in intercollegiate competition; a written statement from an official of the governing body of the sport explaining how the athlete or team is internationally recognized; a written statement from a member of the sports media or a recognized expert in the sport explaining how the athlete or team is internationally recognized; evidence that the individual or team is ranked, if the sport has international rankings; or evidence that the athlete or team has received a significant honor or award in the sport.

For a team, the evidence must show that the team as a unit is internationally recognized. An individual player on an internationally recognized foreign team is covered by the team's petition and generally cannot use the team's recognition to work for a different U.S. employer.

Additional statutory paths for athletes and coaches. INA 214(c)(4)(A), as amended by the COMPETE Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-463), opens P-1A to three groups who do not have to meet the "internationally recognized" test alone.

Outside these statutory paths, coaches are not athletes for P-1A purposes. A coach who is integral to a P-1 athlete or team may qualify as essential support personnel (P-1S), and a coach with an individual record of acclaim may look at the O-1. The USCIS Policy Manual (Volume 2, Part N) addresses how officers apply these provisions, including to amateur athletes and coaches.

P-1B Entertainment Groups

Under 8 CFR 214.2(p)(4)(iii), an entertainment group must be recognized internationally as outstanding in the discipline for a sustained and substantial period of time, and the petition must show:

• At least 1 year of existence. The group has been established and performing regularly for at least 1 year.
• Membership history and the 75 percent rule. A statement listing each member of the group and the exact dates each has been regularly employed by the group. At least 75 percent of the members must have had a sustained and substantial relationship with the group for at least 1 year and must provide functions integral to the group's performance.
• International recognition, shown by evidence that the group has been nominated for or has received significant international awards or prizes for outstanding achievement in its field, or by at least three of the following: performances as a starring or leading entertainment group in productions or events with a distinguished reputation; international recognition and acclaim for outstanding achievement shown by reviews in major newspapers, trade journals, magazines, or other published material; performances as a leading or starring group for organizations and establishments with a distinguished reputation; a record of major commercial or critically acclaimed successes; significant recognition for achievements from organizations, critics, government agencies, or other recognized experts in the field; or a high salary or other substantial remuneration compared with others in the field.

Exceptions. USCIS may waive the international recognition requirement for a group that has been recognized nationally as outstanding in its discipline for a sustained and substantial period where special circumstances, such as limited access to news media or consequences of geography, make international recognition difficult to show. The 1-year membership requirement does not apply to circus personnel coming to join a circus that has been recognized nationally as outstanding for a sustained and substantial period. USCIS may also waive the 1-year rule for a member who, because of illness or other unanticipated and exigent circumstances, replaces an essential member of the group or a member performing a critical role; a new member's critical role on its own, without those circumstances, is not the basis for the waiver (8 CFR 214.2(p)(4)(iii)(C) and the Form I-129 instructions). The 1-year requirement applies only to the members of the group, not to support personnel. Each member must be individually named in the petition

P-2 Reciprocal Exchange Programs

Under 8 CFR 214.2(p)(5), a P-2 artist or entertainer must be coming to perform, individually or as part of a group, under a reciprocal exchange program between an organization or organizations in the United States and an organization or organizations in one or more foreign countries, which provides for the temporary exchange of artists and entertainers. The petition must include a copy of the formal reciprocal exchange agreement between the sponsoring U.S. organization and the foreign organization, a statement from the sponsoring organization describing the program, evidence that an appropriate labor organization in the United States was involved in negotiating or has concurred with the exchange, and evidence that the U.S. and foreign artists or entertainers have comparable skills and that the terms and conditions of employment are similar. Because the regulation requires the labor organization's involvement in the exchange itself, that involvement is part of the core evidence rather than a separate formality.

P-3 Culturally Unique Programs

Under 8 CFR 214.2(p)(6), a P-3 artist or entertainer must be coming, individually or as a group, to develop, interpret, represent, coach, or teach a unique or traditional ethnic, folk, cultural, musical, theatrical, or artistic performance or presentation. The petition must include affidavits, testimonials, or letters from recognized experts attesting to the authenticity of the beneficiary's or group's skills in performing, presenting, coaching, or teaching the unique and traditional art form, with the expert's credentials and the basis of the knowledge, or published reviews or other published materials showing that the performance is culturally unique. The petition must also show that all of the performances or presentations in the United States will be culturally unique events. Popularity abroad or performing in a foreign language is not enough on its own; the question is whether the art form is unique or traditional to a particular country, nation, society, class, ethnicity, religion, tribe, or other group. The Administrative Appeals Office has held that a culturally unique art form can include a hybrid or fusion of more than one culture or region (Matter of Skirball Cultural Center, 25 I&N Dec. 799 (AAO 2012)). 

Essential Support Personnel

Support staff who are an integral part of the performance of a P-1 athlete or team, P-1 entertainment group, P-2, or P-3 principal, such as coaches, trainers, scouts, referees, technicians, and stage crew, can qualify in P-1S, P-2S, or P-3S status. Under 8 CFR 214.2(p)(3), an essential support person is a highly skilled, essential person who performs support services that cannot be readily performed by a U.S. worker and that are essential to the successful performance of the principal. Essential support personnel must be filed for on a separate petition from the principals (8 CFR 214.2(p)(2)(iv)(B)), with a consultation from an appropriate labor organization about the essentiality of the support role, a statement describing the person's prior and current essentiality and critical skills and experience with the principal, and a copy of the written contract or a summary of the terms of the oral agreement. 

The Labor Consultation (Advisory Opinion)

Before USCIS can approve a P-1, P-2, or P-3 petition, the petitioner must consult an appropriate labor organization, such as a union or guild in the field, and file the organization's written advisory opinion with the petition (8 CFR 214.2(p)(7)). What the opinion addresses depends on the category:

• P-1: the nature of the work to be done and the beneficiary's (or team's or group's) qualifications.
• P-2: whether the reciprocal exchange program meets the P-2 requirements.
• P-3: the nature of the work and whether the work is culturally unique.
• Support personnel: whether the support role is essential and whether the person's skills and experience with the principal meet the standard.

Other rules that shape the consultation: 

• Favorable or not. A favorable opinion can be a letter or a no-objection statement. If the labor organization's opinion is unfavorable, it must state the specific facts behind it. The opinion is advisory and is not binding on USCIS. USCIS has stated that labor organizations may send unfavorable opinions directly to USCIS for the agency to match with the petition; that practice should be confirmed with the specific organization in your field.
• Separate opinions. Essential support personnel need their own consultation, and a consultation for a group does not cover a support petition.
• When no organization exists. If the petitioner can show that no appropriate labor organization exists, USCIS decides the case on the other evidence of record (8 CFR 214.2(p)(7)).
• Filing without the opinion. If the petition is filed without a written advisory opinion, the Form I-129 instructions direct the petitioner to send a copy of the petition and all supporting documents to the appropriate labor organization at the time of filing and to identify that organization in the petition. USCIS may then obtain the opinion through the regulatory consultation process. This is a separate procedure, not an ordinary request for evidence, and it adds time and uncertainty.
• Exigent circumstances. Where a petition is filed because of exigent circumstances, 8 CFR 214.2(p)(7) allows USCIS to request the opinion from the labor organization directly and gives the organization a limited response window, but a petitioner should not plan around this exception.
• Plan for timing. Labor organizations set their own fees and turnaround times, which are separate from USCIS fees and processing. Request the opinion early.

Who Can File: Employers, Sponsors, and Agents

The petitioner is the U.S. party that files Form I-129. Under 8 CFR 214.2(p)(2)(i) and (iv), that can be the U.S. employer (a team, league, venue, or promoter), a U.S. sponsoring organization, or a U.S. agent. A foreign employer cannot file directly; it must act through a U.S. agent. 

• One employer. The employer files for the athlete, team, or group, and separately for essential support personnel.
• Several employers or a tour. Each employer can file its own petition, or a U.S. agent can file one petition covering all of them. An agent filing for multiple employers must submit a complete itinerary of events, dates, and locations, the contracts between the employers and the beneficiary, and an explanation of the terms and conditions of employment, and must be authorized in writing to act as agent for the other employers for the limited purpose of filing the petition.
• Agents for foreign employers. A U.S. agent may file for a foreign employer that authorizes the agent to act for it. In that case the agent is responsible for complying with the petitioner obligations, including the return transportation duty.
• Return transportation. If the beneficiary is dismissed from employment by the petitioner before the end of the authorized period of stay, the employer (and, where an agent filed for a foreign employer, the agent) is responsible for the reasonable cost of the beneficiary's return transportation abroad (8 CFR 214.2(p)(16)).
• Petitioner contracts. Copies of any written contracts between the petitioner and the beneficiary, or a summary of the terms of an oral agreement, go with the petition.
• Petitioner obligations continue. The petitioner must file an amended petition for any material change in the terms and conditions of employment or the beneficiary's eligibility (8 CFR 214.2(p)(13)).

The P Visa Process, Step by Step

The P process generally follows these steps.

Step 1: Confirm the right subcategory and the petitioner

Identify whether the beneficiary fits P-1A, P-1B, P-2, or P-3, and whether support personnel will need separate petitions. Decide who files. A U.S. employer, a U.S. sponsoring organization, or a U.S. agent can petition. A foreign employer cannot petition directly; it must act through a U.S. agent (8 CFR 214.2(p)(2)(ii) and (iv)).

An agent may file as the actual employer, as the representative of both the employer and the beneficiary, or as a person authorized by a foreign employer. An agent petition for multiple employers must include the itinerary with dates and locations, contracts between the employers and the beneficiary, and an explanation of the terms and conditions of employment.

Step 2: Obtain the labor organization consultation

Request the written advisory opinion from the appropriate labor organization. The consulting organization sets its own turnaround and fee, so request it early. If no appropriate labor organization exists for the field, document that fact.

Step 3: Assemble the evidence and file Form I-129

The petitioner files Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, with the P Classification Supplement, the consultation, the contract or summary of the oral agreement, the itinerary, and the evidence of international recognition, reciprocity, or cultural uniqueness. A petition may not be filed more than one year before the beneficiary's services are needed (8 CFR 214.2(p)(2)(i)).

More than one beneficiary can be included on a single P petition if all of them will be employed for the same period and will perform the same services. The current Form I-129 instructions limit a P petition to 25 named beneficiaries; a group with more members needs more than one petition. If the services will take place in more than one location, the petition must include an itinerary. Support personnel go on their own petition.

Step 4: USCIS adjudication

USCIS reviews the petition and may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE). On approval, USCIS issues Form I-797, Notice of Action. If the beneficiary is outside the United States, the approval is made available to the consulate through the Petition Information Management Service (PIMS), the State Department's database of approved petitions that consular officers check before issuing a visa.

If the beneficiary is already in the United States in another valid nonimmigrant status, the petitioner can request a change of status on the same Form I-129. An approved change of status allows the person to begin or continue in P status without departing, but it does not place a visa in the passport. If the person later travels abroad, a P visa must be obtained at a consulate before returning (unless the person is visa-exempt, as Canadian citizens generally are). Change of status is not available to everyone; for example, people admitted under the Visa Waiver Program, or in C, D, or K status, cannot change status in the United States (INA 248; 8 CFR 248.2).

Step 5: Consular visa application (for beneficiaries abroad)

The beneficiary completes Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, pays the visa application fee, schedules an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate, and attends with the passport, Form I-797 approval notice, and supporting documents. The consular officer verifies the petition in PIMS and decides whether to issue the visa. Canadian citizens are generally visa-exempt and present the approval notice at the port of entry instead.

The Foreign Affairs Manual (9 FAM 402.14-10) allows a P visa to be issued up to 90 days before the petition's start date, but the visa may be used to seek admission only beginning 10 days before that date. Visa interview wait times vary by post and change frequently. Check the specific consulate's current wait time on the Department of State website before booking travel or announcing dates.

Step 6: Admission to the United States

At the port of entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer inspects the traveler and issues an electronic Form I-94 showing P status and the admit-until date. A P beneficiary may be admitted up to 10 days before the petition validity period begins and may remain up to 10 days after it ends, but may not work during those 10-day windows. Check the I-94 online after entry; the I-94 date, not the visa stamp, controls how long the person may stay.

Step 7: Extensions, amendments, and new events

To continue or complete the same event or activity, the petitioner files a new Form I-129 requesting an extension before the current status expires. If the terms and conditions of employment or the beneficiary's eligibility change materially (new employer, new type of event, substantially different itinerary), the petitioner must file an amended petition (8 CFR 214.2(p)(2)(iv)(D)). The same provision allows a petitioner to add additional, similar, or comparable performances, engagements, or competitions during the validity period without an amended petition.

Changing to P Status From Inside the U.S.

A person already in the United States in another nonimmigrant status may be able to change to P status through the same Form I-129, by asking USCIS to grant a change of status instead of notifying a consulate (8 CFR 248). Whether this works depends on the current status (some statuses, such as C, D, K, J-1s subject to the two-year home residence requirement, and visa waiver admissions, cannot change status), on the person maintaining status at the time of filing, and on the timing of the events. A change of status grants P status inside the United States but does not issue a visa; if the person later travels abroad, a P visa from a consulate is needed to return (unless visa-exempt).

What documents are needed for a P visa petition?

The exact list depends on the category and the case, but these documents come up in P petitions.

From the petitioner

• Form I-129 with the P Classification Supplement, signed by the petitioner.
• Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, if represented.
• Filing fee payments (see the fee section).
• Written consultation from the appropriate labor organization, or evidence that none exists.
• Copy of the written contract between the petitioner and beneficiary, or a summary of the terms of an oral agreement.
• Explanation of the nature of the events or activities, start and end dates, and a copy of any itinerary.
• For agent petitions: evidence of the agent's authority to act, contracts with each employer, and the full itinerary.
• For petitioners claiming the reduced small-employer or nonprofit fees: the documentation described in the Form I-129 instructions and the USCIS fee schedule, such as the petitioner's most recent IRS Form 941 (small employers) or IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter (nonprofits).

For P-1A athletes and teams

• Tendered contract with a major U.S. league or team, or an individual-sport contract commensurate with international recognition.
• At least two of the seven forms of evidence listed above (rankings, awards, national team participation, expert statements, and so on).
• For INA 214(c)(4)(A) cases: evidence of the association's or league's structure, revenues or amateur status, and the beneficiary's employment with the team or production.

For P-1B entertainment groups

• Evidence the group has existed and performed regularly for at least one year.
• A list of members with dates each joined, showing at least 75 percent have been with the group for at least one year.
• Evidence of a significant international award or nomination, or at least three of the six criteria above.

For P-2 reciprocal exchange

• Copy of the formal reciprocal exchange agreement.
• Statement from the sponsoring organization describing the exchange.
• Evidence of labor organization involvement or concurrence.
• Evidence of comparable skill levels and similar employment terms for the U.S. and foreign artists.

For P-3 culturally unique programs

• Affidavits or letters from recognized experts attesting to authenticity and explaining their credentials, or published reviews and articles showing the performance is culturally unique.
• Evidence that all performances will be culturally unique.

For essential support personnel

• Labor consultation specific to the support skill.
• Statement describing prior essentiality, critical skills, and experience with the principal.
• Copy of the contract or summary of the oral agreement.

For the consular stage

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay (unless a country-specific agreement provides otherwise).
• DS-160 confirmation page and fee receipt.
• Form I-797 approval notice and a copy of the petition.
• Evidence of a residence abroad and intent to depart, as the consular officer may request.

Temporary Intent and INA 214(b)

The P classification is for a temporary stay. INA 101(a)(15)(P) describes the P nonimmigrant as a person who has a foreign residence that the person has no intention of abandoning, and INA 214(b) presumes that every visa applicant is an intending immigrant until the applicant satisfies the consular officer that the applicant qualifies for the nonimmigrant status sought. INA 214(b) exempts H-1B, L, and V applicants from that presumption; it does not exempt P applicants. A P visa applicant should therefore be prepared to show that the trip is temporary and tied to the events in the approved petition.

At the same time, 8 CFR 214.2(p)(15) provides that the approval of a permanent labor certification or the filing of a preference petition for the beneficiary is not a basis for denying a P petition, a request to extend it, or the beneficiary's admission, change of status, or extension of stay. The regulation states that a P nonimmigrant may legitimately come to the United States for a temporary period and depart at the end of the authorized stay while, at the same time, lawfully seeking to become a permanent resident. In practice, a pending immigrant petition does not by itself defeat a P visa application, but the applicant should still be ready to explain the temporary purpose of the P trip.

P Visa Filing Fees

Government fees for a P petition fall into several pieces. USCIS filing fees are set by regulation (8 CFR 106.2) and changed most recently on April 1, 2024; the premium processing fee changed on March 1, 2026. Labor organization consultation fees and attorney fees are separate.

A 2025 federal law (Public Law 119-21, section 100007) created a separate "visa integrity fee" payable when a nonimmigrant visa is issued, set by statute at the greater of $250 or an amount established by rule, with annual inflation adjustments beginning in fiscal year 2026. As of October 8, 2026, no live State Department or DHS source confirming the collection mechanism or the current fiscal year 2026 amount could be verified for this page, so the fee is described here by what the statute provides and not by a confirmed current amount. Visa reciprocity (issuance) fees also apply for some nationalities after approval, and visa bonds apply to nationals of listed countries as described in the process section. Petitioners should check the live USCIS fee schedule before filing, because USCIS rejects petitions filed with the wrong fee.

How Long Does P Visa Processing Take?

Total time depends on how quickly the labor organization issues its opinion, whether you use premium processing, whether USCIS issues a request for evidence, and consular appointment availability. With premium processing, USCIS commits to take adjudicative action (an approval, denial, request for evidence, or notice of intent to deny) within 15 business days of receiving a properly filed Form I-907, or it refunds the premium fee and continues processing. Regular processing times are posted by USCIS and change; check the live USCIS processing times page for Form I-129 at the service center handling your case. Timelines vary and can change, so plan backward from the first event date.

A request for evidence stops the premium processing clock until USCIS receives the response, and a new 15-business-day period starts then. A complete, well-organized petition reduces the chance of a request for evidence, but it cannot eliminate it. 

How Long Can You Stay on a P Visa?

The approved petition sets the validity period, and the beneficiary is admitted for that period plus up to 10 days before and 10 days after it (8 CFR 214.2(p)(12)). Work is allowed only during the validity period, not during the 10-day grace periods.

• P-1A individual athletes: up to 5 years initially, with an extension of up to 5 more years, for a total stay of up to 10 years (8 CFR 214.2(p)(8)(iii)(A) and (p)(14)(ii)(A)).
• P-1A teams and P-1B entertainment groups: the time USCIS determines is needed for the competition, event, or performance, not to exceed 1 year.
• P-2 and P-3: the time needed for the event, activity, or performance, not to exceed 1 year.
• Essential support personnel: the initial period is the time needed for the event, up to 1 year, including for support staff of a P-1A individual athlete. USCIS Policy Memorandum PA-2019-03 states that an extension for essential support personnel of an individual P-1A athlete may exceed 1 year, up to the time needed to complete the same event or activity, subject to the 5-year extension limit and the 10-year total limit that apply to the athlete. Support personnel for teams, groups, P-2, and P-3 principals are extended in increments of up to 1 year.
• P-4 family: tied to the principal's period.

Extensions

To continue or complete the same event or activity, the petitioner files a new Form I-129 asking USCIS to extend the petition validity and, for a beneficiary who is in the United States, to extend that beneficiary's stay, with a statement explaining why the extension is needed (8 CFR 214.2(p)(14)). Two different things are being requested, and they have different rules:

• Petition validity. The petitioner can ask to extend the validity of the petition whether or not the beneficiary is in the United States. If the beneficiary is abroad, the beneficiary uses the extended approval to apply for a visa (if needed) and seeks a new admission; no extension of stay is involved.
• Extension of stay. USCIS can grant an extension of stay only to a beneficiary who is physically in the United States when the request is filed and who has maintained status, and the request must be filed before the current period of admission on the I-94 expires (8 CFR 214.1(c)(4) and 214.2(p)(14)). A beneficiary who departs while the extension of stay request is pending generally cannot receive it and instead needs the extended petition approval and a new admission.

Extensions for teams, groups, P-2, P-3, and support personnel are granted in increments of up to 1 year.

P-1 vs. O-1: which classification fits?

Athletes and entertainers may qualify for more than one classification. The main alternative is O-1 (extraordinary ability in athletics, arts, business, education, or sciences, or extraordinary achievement in motion pictures and television).