U.S. Tightens Visa Rules for Transgender Athletes Competing in Women’s Sports

August 14, 2025 – The United States government has formally updated its visa eligibility standards to restrict transgender biological males from receiving certain visa classifications if they intend to compete in women’s sports, in line with President Donald Trump’s executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.”
A new policy alert issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Monday outlines how the change will impact foreign athletes seeking entry into the United States for competitive sports.
According to the alert, USCIS will now consider whether a biological male athlete has competed in women’s categories as a negative factor when determining whether the applicant qualifies as being among the “very top of the field” a requirement under specific O-1 and P-1 visa classifications for elite athletes.
Executive Order Driving the Change
The policy shift follows President Trump’s executive order signed earlier this year, which mandates that U.S. immigration and sports authorities enforce sex-based protections in athletics, particularly for female and youth sports categories.
Trump’s administration has argued that allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports “undermines fair competition” and creates disadvantages for women and girls. Critics argue the new policy discriminates against transgender individuals and risks politicizing sports and immigration decisions.
Impact on International Competitions
This new rule could affect international athletes seeking to compete in U.S.-based tournaments, including the Olympics, professional leagues, and college-level sports. Advocacy groups for transgender athletes have condemned the measure, while supporters of the executive order view it as a step toward protecting biological women’s sports categories.

“This is about fairness and biology,” a senior USCIS official told reporters anonymously. “Athletes entering the U.S. to compete should not have an unfair advantage in women’s events.”

Ongoing Debate Over Gender and Sports
The move reignites the broader cultural and legal debate over transgender participation in sports, an issue that has divided lawmakers, athletic organizations, and the public in recent years.
Several U.S. states have already enacted similar bans or restrictions at the school and collegiate levels. Now, the federal government’s immigration policy appears to be taking cues from those state led efforts, applying them to non-citizens and foreign athletes.