US Tightens Visa Policies for Transgender Athletes in Women's Sports

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its immigration policy to restrict visa eligibility for transgender women seeking to compete in women's sports. This policy change, announced on August 4, 2025, aligns with Executive Order 14201, titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," which directs the Department of Homeland Security to develop policies to prevent the entry of male athletes seeking to compete in women's sports. Under the new guidelines, USCIS will consider a male athlete's participation in women's sports as a negative factor when evaluating visa petitions in categories such as O-1A for extraordinary ability, EB-1 and EB-2 green cards for highly skilled.... USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser stated that the move aims to ensure fairness and safety in women's athletics, asserting that only biological females should be eligible for such sports visas. This policy update reflects the administration's broader efforts to regulate transgender participation in athletics... actions at the state level. The United States Olympic & Paralym... (USOPC) has also revised its policies to comply with the executive order, barring transgender women from competing.... This decision has sparked debate, with supporters arguing it restores fairness in women's sports, while critics contend it infringes on the rights of transgender athletes. The policy changes have raised concerns about the impact on transgender athletes' rights and the broader implications for inclusivity in sports.