Requirements for a P1 Visa

Each P1 visitor must be the beneficiary of a petition approved by the Department of Homeland Security prior to visa issuance.  A P-1 petition must be filed by a US employer, a US sponsoring organization, a US agent, or a foreign employer through a US agent.  P1 visas may be granted to visitors who are coming temporarily to the United States:

(1) In the case of an athlete, to compete as an individual or as a member of a team in a specific competition at an internationally recognized level; or to provide essential support to such athletes

(2) In the case of entertainers, to perform with, or as an essential part of the performance of, an entertainment group that has been recognized internationally as being outstanding for a sustained and substantial period of time.  At least 75 percent of the members must have been with the group for at least one year.

Any visitor issued a P1 visa based on a group or team relationship may not perform services separate and apart from the group or team.

How to Apply for a P1 Visa

The scheduling service, can only schedule an appointment once the Consular Section has had an opportunity to review the application package.  To start the process, please send your application packet to:

Consulado General de los Estados Unidos
Atención Visas P
Constitución 411 Pte.
Monterrey, Nuevo León

All packets must arrive at the Consulate via a courier service such as DHL, Aeroflash, Multipack, etc.

The application packet for P1 groups must include the following:

• Letter indicating your email address
• Details of the role of each member of your group (examples, bassist, drummer, audio technician, lighting technician, etc.) and their length of time within the group.
• Copy of I-797 USCIS approved work petition
• Publicity related to the group, CDs, discography, posters, contracts, newspaper articles, magazines, and any other information that demonstrates the group is professional, especially any events in the United States or Mexico in the past two years.
• In the case of substitutions, a letter from the petitioner indicating the complete names of those being removed from the petition and the complete names of their respective substitutions.

You will receive e-mail notification from the Consulate within three days of receipt of your packet either confirming that your application is ready to be scheduled or requesting additional information.  Once authorized for scheduling, the scheduling service will issue a Self Service Code giving you access to schedule your own appointment.  Please refer to How to Apply for a Visa for additional visa application requirements.  For scheduling concerns please contact MEXGroups@csc.com directly.  

The Day of your Interview at the Applicant Service Center

In addition to the requirements listed How to Apply for a Visa, please present a copy of approved I-797 USCIS petition and letter indicating the role of each member of your group (examples, bassist, drummer, audio technician, lighting technician, etc.).

The Day of your consular interview

In addition to the requirements listed How to Apply for a Visa, please bring the following:

• Copy of your I-797 USCIS approved petition. 
• All members of the group must apply the same day and time, and bring any previous P1 and/or tourist visas.
• It is recommended that the group’s coordinator or representative be present.
• Assuming no administrative processing is required, you will be asked to pay the $125 reciprocity fee at the Consular Section’s cashier prior to visa issuance.  It will take two to five days to receive your visa through the Delivery Service at the Applicant Service Center.

Petitions are often valid for one year.  However, visa reciprocity with Mexico limits issuance to a maximum of 6 months.