INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ATHLETE

P-1A: THE PLAYER'S VISA

$6,000 flat service fee · U.S. government filing fees separate

The P-1A is built for internationally recognized athletes coming to compete in U.S. events with a distinguished reputation — and USCIS has expressly acknowledged that a professional poker player may qualify. For an accomplished pro, it is usually the realistic first category: your titles, rankings and press prove recognition, and the U.S. series you plan to play become the itinerary.

START YOUR VISA CHECK BOOK A $500 CONSULT

THE PROCESS, START TO FINISH

Record review — we assess your titles, results, rankings and press against the P-1A standard before you spend a dollar on filing.
Petitioner setup — poker pros rarely have a U.S. employer — our agent-petitioner structure (Aventus Visa Agents) is the framework USCIS recognizes for independent competitors.
Itinerary build — we plead a season of U.S. tournament competition — the major series on your calendar — so you're covered for a period of events, not one stop.
Evidence package — results and title documentation, rankings, international press, and the consultation the regulations require.
Filing (Form I-129) — we prepare and file the petition; premium processing is available when a series date is close.
Consular step — after approval, visa stamping at your consulate — we prep you for the interview, including the questions competitive players actually get.
You play — P-1A covers the itinerary period pleaded, with extensions available as your U.S. schedule grows.

AT A GLANCE

Question	Answer
Who is it for?	Accomplished pros with real international results and recognition.
Do I need a sponsor or employer?	No — the agent-petitioner route is built for independent players.
Do open buy-in events count against me?	They're a question to answer, not a disqualifier — we brief the event's reputation and your recognition head-on.
How long is it valid?	Up to the itinerary period pleaded; extensions available.
Speed?	Premium processing gets a USCIS decision in weeks, not months.

QUESTIONS PLAYERS ASK

I've been playing U.S. series on a visitor visa — is that a problem?

It can be. The B-1/B-2 line on tournament play and prize money is narrow, and a bad airport encounter follows you. Tell us your history honestly and we'll map the clean path forward.

My results are mostly online — do they count?

Live, verifiable results carry the most weight, but a documented record across recognized events all goes into the recognition argument. The free check tells you where you stand.

What if my record isn't there yet?

Then we say so, and tell you what a filing-ready record looks like — which events, which results, what press. No one should pay to file a loser.