Student Athlete to Pro

Often I am consulted by foreign student athletes who are graduating in the spring (May or June) who wonder if it is time to think about what to do after that date. Well, the important thing to remember is that the student visa is considered to be expired upon the student's graduation. Although USCIS gives the student a 60 day grace period within which to leave the U.S. or find another school enrollment, the visa is considered expired. That is important because if the athlete then decides to file for the P1 visa, for instance, he or she may well be approved, but the athlete will be required to return to his/her own country to obtain the actual visa in the passport. Not convenient, given especially the kind of waits being imposed upon visa applicants in many countries. Better to apply for the visa before the student visa expires. Then approval by USCIS will allow for the athlete to remain in the U.S. indefinitely and the athlete's career may proceed without major interruptions.