O-1A Visas For MMA Coaches - Part 2: Awards
This series of articles will look at some of the factors USCIS evaluates in determining whether an individual meets the requirements for an O-1A visa to work in the U.S. as an MMA (BJJ, Muay Thai, etc.) coach or instructor.
To qualify for an O-1A visa, unless an individual has won a major internationally recognized award (the equivalent of a Nobel Prize), they must provide proof of meeting at least 3 out of 8 criteria. The first criteria requires proof that an individual has won nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in their field.
In many cases, an individual goes into coaching or teaching martial arts after having success as an athlete. In the past, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) has stated that it will evaluate O-1A visa cases on (1) whether the applicant has clearly achieved national/international acclaim as an athlete; and (2) whether the applicant has sustained that acclaim in the field of coaching at a national level. In re X, File LIN 04 037 54758 (AAO Jan. 9, 2006). As such, these cases may involve submitting proof of awards both as an athlete and as a coach.
Where an individual is seeking an O-1A visa as an MMA Instructor or Coach, the AAO has stated that in order to meet this criteria, applicants should provide documentation that their students have received nationally or internationally recognized awards. In Re X, File EAC 005 251 50742 (AAO Oct. 25, 2007).
Applicants should be aware of the type of evidence U.S. immigration will accept for this criteria for both coaches and their students. The AAO has stated that “national championships, continental championships, and world championships are examples of the types of awards that would clearly qualify under this criterion without supporting evidence beyond copies of the awards themselves.” In re X, California Service Center (AAO Sept. 30, 2010). In other cases, evidence of entry criteria or the official results indicating the number of entrants in the applicant’s category or weight division may be required to meet this criteria. Id. The fact that a competition is open to athletes from other countries by itself is not adequate to establish that an award or prize is nationally or internationally recognized. Id.
The AAO has accepted evidence of awards received at the Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championships as meeting this criteria. In Re X, File LIN 06 052 52226 (AAO Nov. 29, 2007).
The AAO has dismissed BJJ tournament championship awards where the applicant did not provide proof that the victories attracted media attention, and did not submit information on the caliber and skill of opponents. In Re 5235790 (AAO Nov. 21, 2019) (also noting that the awards were obtained when the applicant was not, yet, a black belt).