Didja Know...U.S. gov. gives visas to foreign e-sport "athletes"?

MagicSugar

http://metronews.ca/news/canada/744918/u-s-visa-rules-recognize-video-gamers-as-athletes/

In what’s being touted as a victory for competitive gaming, electronic sport players are now eligible for athlete visas allowing them to work, travel and reside in America for up to five years. The visas are the same as those given to foreign athletes in other major sports leagues, like the NBA and NHL.

Just found out about it. Wondering how it compares when acquiring visas for artists, harder or easier. I mean, who goes to Game U. for degrees in playing.

Will a formal letter of acceptance from any "game house" qualify?

Can you part-time as an artist under this visa? Do you have to maintain world rankings? [Just some rhetorical questions.}

TheWinterLord

I guess you have to be at the extreme top players of a big game, or there is probably no chance getting a visa for it.

leslievdb

seeing what BS you have to go through to get a visa i assume this will have a long list of conditions attached to it as well

Neavah

It's a p1 visa, so I would imagine the requirements would be such as:

- a contract with a 'major us sports league'
tsm, clg, curse, dignitas etc. for LoL I would say are pretty major (for North America) (Riot also pays salary to high rated LCS teams/players)

-participation in the 'major leagues'
you'd probably have to be competing, and have standing in the LCS (league championship series) for LoL (weekly games played in LA that are put on and streamed by Riot)

-participation on a national team at international levels
Top teams of LCS compete for championship spots to play at worlds. Aside from worlds I don't believe there's international tournaments any more

-evidence that the player is highly ranked, or received an award/honor
most likely would need high solo queue ratings (highly skilled, or high up on the LoL rankings ladder, maybe even a large fan based, probably through streaming) or have won/been a part of previous tournaments (most of these tournaments would probably be considered 'minor league' now...)

-written statement from members of sports media about how awesome you or your team is/are

with that, I wouldn't think it would be easy, unless you were a good/pro level player. You most likely wouldn't be able to get together with 5 other players and make a team and qualify for this visa (unless you were really dam good, and got into LCS).

As for working in other (art based) jobs you might have to follow this:

You may change employers, but only after your new employer has filed a new Form I-129 with USCIS requesting permission to employ you and extend your stay. You may not commence employment with the new employer until the Form I-129 has been approved.

I would interpret that as a 'no' to that question.

I don't know that much about visas, and am certainly not a pro LoL player, but that's what I would gather from it.
If you were to get this visa, you'd most likely be dedicating all your time to playing LoL and keeping your skill level up, or you'll get benched/kicked from the team.
I don't think it would be any easier than getting a visa to do art. You may not need the professional experience, but being at the top of the NA scene, then getting a 'major' team to sign you doesn't seem any easier.

MagicSugar

If only there was an all-ages pro league for games like Skylanders or maybe Wii badminton...:)

marks

Getting good enough at a game (and staying that good) to be eligible for a P1 visa is legitimately a full-time job in itself. That's why it's a paid career...