How can a foreign athlete come to the US?

If an athlete plans for a short stay and will not earn income other than prize money, they might pursue a Visa A-1 or use the Visa Waiver Program. If an athlete wants to live full-time in the US, they likely will apply for a Visa B-1, which is often based on achieving international recognition, or they might pursue a Visa C-1, which is based on extraordinary ability. An amateur foreign athlete planning for a short stay also might pursue a Visa A-1 or Visa A-2 or use the Visa Waiver Program. For a longer stay, they might pursue a Visa J-1 student exchange program or sometimes a Visa C-1.