Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. and I rise in support of Senate 3821. the COMPETE Act of 2006. S. 3821 would allow minor league professional athletes and certain performers to utilize the P1 visa category. The P1 visa category allows internationally recognized performers. including athletes. artists and entertainers. to temporarily enter the U.S. for a specific event. competition or performance. To date. Citizenship and Immigration Services has interpreted the Immigration and Nationality Act in such a way that only allows major league professional athletes to utilize the P1 visa category. Minor league baseball and hockey players and some professional performers have been forced to utilize the H2B visa category. which is capped at 66.000 visas annually and has been oversubscribed in recent years. Many minor league baseball and hockey teams attempt to bring in new players at times of the year when the numerical cap has already been reached for H2B visas. Ice skaters who perform in special events in the United States find themselves in a similar predicament. Ice shows are planned many months in advance. but when ice skaters are recruited for these shows. H2B visas are not always available. This legislation would also allow ice skaters performing in theatrical ice productions to use the P1 visa category. The United States is the pinnacle showground for most athletes and performers. It is where the best athletes and performers come to display their talents and skills.
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visa visas H2B Immigration