The Esports Trade Association (ESTA) has recently launched a Consultation Letter service to support esports professionals in their US visa applications. This service is aimed at assisting professional players, coaches, event organizers, and other talents in obtaining a Consultation Letter, a vital component of the US visa application process.
This initiative is crucial to the further development of the nation’s esports scene as the receipt of this type of letter can be beneficial in an individual’s visa application. The document is especially important in light of recent denials of visas impacting the national esports ecosystem.
Justin M. Jacobson Esq.
The rationale behind introducing this Consultation Letter service stems from ESTA’s commitment to fostering the growth of esports. The service is available to both ESTA members and non-members who are applying for O & P visas to enter the United States. This development follows the official recognition of esports as sports by the US. For esports professionals intending to participate in events in the US, O & P visas are crucial, as these visa categories are typically granted to athletes and entertainment professionals.
Esports professionals often utilize the P-1A visa, which requires them to be internationally recognized athletes attending globally significant events in the US. To obtain a US visa, foreign nationals usually need a Consultation Letter issued by peer groups, labor organizations, or management organizations within their respective fields. ESTA has taken the initiative to act as a peer group for esports professionals to provide this service, making it easier for esports events to be hosted in the US.
Historically, professional esports players have faced visa issues that have resulted in their absence from US-based tournaments. Despite the increasing global recognition of esports, securing visas for esports competitions remains a persistent industry-wide challenge worldwide.
Justin M. Jacobson Esq., an esports and video game attorney and an ESTA member, expressed the importance of this initiative in advancing the nation’s esports scene. He said, “This initiative is crucial to the further development of the nation’s esports scene as the receipt of this type of letter can be beneficial in an individual’s visa application. The document is especially important in light of recent denials of visas impacting the national esports ecosystem.”
