On September 17, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) issued significant updates to the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM), specifically 9 FAM 402.2-5(C)(4), which governs B-1 visitor eligibility for professional athletes. These revisions carry wide-ranging implications for athletes, coaches, and other sports professionals who travel to the United States for competitions or training.
1. Stricter Rules for “Prize Money” Athletes
Previously, professional athletes competing for prize money could often rely on B-1 status to enter the U.S. under flexible conditions. The new FAM language introduces three new requirements:
- The athlete’s principal place of business or activity must be abroad;
- The athlete’s salary must principally accrue abroad; and
- For team-based sports, the team must be part of an international league or the sport must have an international dimension.
These changes narrow eligibility, particularly for individual and Olympic-style athletes who train primarily in the U.S. Many will now find it difficult to prove that their base of operations and income remain abroad. This effectively steers long-term or structured athletic activity toward P-1 or O-1 visa categories, which require a U.S. petitioner and are more costly and time-consuming.
The key groups impacted by this revision will be early-career athletes transitioning from NCAA programs, prize-money competitors in sports like track and field, tennis, and swimming, and athletes in lower-paying or developing sports who cannot afford P-1/O-1 sponsorships.
2. Formal Recognition for Support Staff
A welcome addition to the FAM now allows “necessary” support personnel—including coaches, medical staff, strategists, and equipment specialists—to qualify for B-1 visas when accompanying non-U.S.-based athletes or teams.
To qualify, support staff must:
- Work for a team or athlete whose principal business is abroad;
- Provide similar services abroad for compensation; and
- Be paid primarily from foreign sources.
This codifies longstanding practice, especially for Canada-based teams in U.S. competitions, and will smooth entry for global events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics. However, the rule does not define “necessary,” leaving some discretion to consular officers. Applicants should be prepared to document their essential role, similar to the evidentiary standards used in P-1S petitions.
3. Expanded B-1 Eligibility for Amateur Tryouts
In another positive shift, the new FAM extends B-1 eligibility for amateur tryouts to all sports—not just hockey. Amateur athletes can now attend tryouts with U.S. professional teams during the regular season or playoffs, provided they receive only incidental expenses (i.e., no pay or benefits).
If a contract offer follows, the athlete must secure a proper P-1 or O-1 visa before competing professionally. This broadens opportunities for emerging talent across global sports.
4. Related Updates: Referees and Visa Validity
Earlier in 2025, DOS also clarified that referees, judges, and technical officials for international competitions may enter under B-1 status if hired through a selection process and paid from abroad.
Additionally, visa reciprocity schedules were recently shortened for many countries—reducing maximum validity for B-1, O-1, and P-1 visas (e.g., Nigeria and China now limited to three months). Combined with tighter third-country processing rules, athletes should plan visa applications well in advance.
5. Bottom Line
The updates mark a pivotal shift in how global athletes engage with U.S. competitions, especially in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
