STANDARDS FOR CLASSIFICATION OF P-1 NONIMMIGRANTS.

SEC. 203. STANDARDS FOR CLASSIFICATION OF P-1 NONIMMIGRANTS. (a) Substitution of New Standards.— Clause (i) of section 101(a)(15)(P) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by section 207(a)(3) of the Immigration Act of 1990, is amended to read as follows: “(i) (a) is described in section 214(c)(4)(A) (relating to athletes), or (b) is described in section 214(c)(4)(B) (relating to entertainment groups);”. (b) New Standards.— Section 214(c)(4) of such Act, as added by section 20703)(2)(B) of the Immigration Act of 1990, is amended by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as subparagraphs (C) through (E) and by inserting before subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, the following new subparagraphs: “(A) For purposes of section 101(a)(15)(P)(i)(a), an alien is described in this subparagraph if the alien— “(i) performs as an athlete, individually or as part of a group or team, at an internationally recognized level of performance, and “(ii) seeks to enter the United States temporarily and solely for the purpose of performing as such an athlete with respect to a specific athletic competition. “(B) (i) For purposes of section 101(a)(15)(P)(i)(b), an alien is described in this subparagraph if the alien— “(I) performs with or is an integral and essential part of the performance of an entertainment group that has (except as provided in clause (ii)) been recognized internationally as being outstanding in the discipline for a sustained and substantial period of time. 105 STAT. 1738 “(II) in the case of a performer or entertainer, except as provided in clause (iii), has had a sustained and substantial relationship with that group (ordinarily for at least one year) and provides functions integral to the performance of the group, and “(III) seeks to enter the United States temporarily and solely for the purpose of performing as such a performer or entertainer or as an integral and essential part of a performance. “(ii) In the case of an entertainment group that is recognized nationally as being outstanding in its discipline for a sustained and substantial period of time, the Attorney General may, in consideration of special circumstances, waive the international recognition requirement of clause (i)(I). “(iii) (I) The one-year relationship requirement of clause (i)(II) shall not apply to 25 percent of the performers and entertainers in a group. “(II) The Attorney General may waive such one-year relationship requirement for an alien who because of illness or unanticipated and exigent circumstances replaces an essential member of the group and for an alien who augments the group by performing a critical role. “(iv) The requirements of subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (i) shall not apply to alien circus personnel who perform as part of a circus or circus group or who constitute an integral and essential part of the performance of such circus or circus group, but only if such personnel are entering the United States to join a circus that has been recognized nationally as outstanding for a sustained and substantial period of time or as part of such a circus.”.