Compete in the U.S. — We Handle the P-1 Visa

The P-1A is a U.S. nonimmigrant visa for internationally recognized athletes and members of internationally recognized teams competing at a specific athletic event, including individual bouts, tournaments, and fight cards. It allows you to legally enter and compete in the United States for the duration of your competition or contract.

Standard USCIS processing typically runs 2–4 months from a complete petition filing. Premium processing, when available and appropriate for your case, can bring an adjudication decision down to about 15 business days. Timelines depend on your case complexity, USCIS workload, and how far in advance you start.

USCIS looks at evidence such as a significant international ranking, participation in major international competitions, national team membership, media coverage, and endorsements. There is no single fight or title required — the evaluation is based on the totality of your record.

Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can accompany you on a P-4 dependent visa. They may attend school in the U.S. but are not authorized to work under P-4 status.

For an individual athlete, P-1A status is granted for the length of your event, contract, or competition itinerary, up to five years on the initial petition. It can then be extended in increments of up to five years to support an ongoing competition schedule in the U.S., for a combined maximum of ten years.

Any internationally recognized sport qualifies, including MMA, boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing, BJJ, and wrestling. What matters is your individual record and recognition within your sport, not the sport itself.

Yes — a P-1 petition must be filed by a U.S. employer, agent, or sponsoring organization on your behalf. As your management agency, MCM can act as that petitioner, or coordinate directly with your promotion when they are willing to sponsor.

Submit the questionnaire anyway. Many fighters qualify on the strength of their overall record even without every box checked, and where you fall short today, we can advise on what to build up — more internationally verified results, a stronger highlight reel, or a national team appearance — before you file.

MCM manages the athlete-side case building, evidence, and sponsorship coordination for your petition. For complex cases we work alongside qualified U.S. immigration counsel to prepare and file the legal petition itself, so your case gets both athletic expertise and legal review.

In many cases, yes — MCM can act as the U.S.-based agent or sponsoring organization your petition requires. We evaluate this on a case-by-case basis as part of the eligibility review.

MCM manages the full athlete side of your case: building your evidence package, coordinating with promotions and consulates, tracking deadlines around your fight schedule, and keeping you updated at every stage — all as part of the same management relationship that handles your fights, sponsorships, and career planning.