USCIS Policy: US Immigration has banned sports visas for transgender women. The new rules have been implemented with immediate effect.
Ban Sports Visa: US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has given a big blow to transgender women players. America has changed its visa policy, under which transgender women have been banned from visa eligibility to participate in women’s sports. Now those transgender women who want to participate in women’s sports will not get visa.
This step has been taken under Executive Order 14201, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”, signed by President Donald Trump in February, which directs to develop policies to prevent male athletes from participating in women’s sports.
Men do not belong in women’s sports.
We’re dedicated to opposing male participation in women’s sports as a matter of safety, fairness, respect, and truth.
In support of Executive Order 14201, Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports, we’ve clarified eligibility for certain visa… pic.twitter.com/lNbs5eep6w
— USCIS (@USCIS) August 4, 2025
What is its purpose?
Actually, America wants to ensure equal opportunities for all women’s athletics. Transgender women have also been kept away from women’s sports, considering them to be men. USCIS said in a statement, “We have clarified the eligibility of some visa categories, such as O-1A (alien with extraordinary ability), E11 (alien with extraordinary ability), E21 (special ability), and National Interest Exemption (NIW). This has been done to ensure that women have equal opportunities in sports in America.” USCIS spokesperson Matthew Trageser said-
“Men have no place in women’s sports. USCIS is closing the loophole under which foreign male athletes try to win in sports against women by changing their gender identity and using biological advantages. It is a matter of safety, fairness, respect and truth that only female athletes should be given visas to participate in women’s sports in America.”
The rule came into effect with immediate effect
USCIS also clarified that participation of male athletes in women’s sports will be considered a negative factor in visa application. If a male athlete wants to participate in women’s sports after gaining fame in men’s sports, he will not be considered to be continuing work in the field of his exceptional ability.
In addition, such athletes will not be exempted from job offers and labor certification requirements in the national interest. This policy has come into effect with immediate effect. USCIS said that this policy manual cancels the old guidelines and priority will be given in implementing it.
