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F-1 Visa and Poker Involvement – Immigration Compliance Question
I’m looking for insights from fellow immigration attorneys on a unique situation involving a client on an F-1 visa who is currently a full-time student and also actively learning and playing poker.
He wishes to participate in poker competitions—some of which may involve cash prizes.
Are there any monetary thresholds or legal concerns he should be aware of to ensure he remains in compliance with his F-1 visa status? Specifically, could regularly winning prize money be considered unauthorized employment or jeopardize his immigration status?
Any guidance or experiences in handling similar cases would be greatly appreciated!
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This discussion was modified 1 month ago by
Alex Green.
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This discussion was modified 1 month ago by
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1 Reply
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hort answer: No — this profile does not meet P-1 requirements, but it could be shaped into a viable O-1 case.
Why the P-1 Visa Doesn’t Fit
Because the petition would be for employment as a coach/assistant trainer rather than as a competing athlete, USCIS would deny a P-1 filing on these facts.
A Better Strategy: O-1A (Athletics)
The O-1A category covers “extraordinary ability in athletics” when the beneficiary comes to work in the field of that ability (competing, training, judging, designing tack, etc.).
To win an O-1A you must show either a major international award or that you meet at least 3 of 8 regulatory criteria. Below are realistic criteria for an equestrian-reining professional in a niche sport:
USCIS also accepts comparable evidence when standard criteria don’t fit niche sports (e.g., press in specialized equine media). Chapter 4 – O-1 Benefic…
Practical Next Steps
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Collect evidence in the categories above: press clippings, award certificates, expert letters from FEI judges, national-team coaches, saddle-company executives, and clients.
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Draft strong expert letters that explain reining’s prestige and why her training innovations are extraordinary (see sample language in the O-1 support-letter guide). O-1 Visa Support Letter…
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Frame the U.S. role as continuing her extraordinary work: coaching elite reiners, refining proprietary saddle-fit methods, giving clinics, and competing at select NRHA/FEI shows.
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Emphasize niche-sport context so the officer understands why FEI starts are rare for top Australian reiners and why industry endorsements carry weight.
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File as O-1A with at least three well-documented criteria; keep a P-1 filing on hold until she gains clear international competition results.
Bottom Line
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P-1 won’t work for a non-competing assistant trainer without international results.
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O-1A is realistic if you marshal competition history, industry endorsements, and evidence of her expert-level training contributions.
Structure the petition carefully around the O-1A criteria and she should have a credible path to U.S. work authorization.
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