The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a significant policy update restricting visa eligibility for transgender women seeking to compete in women’s sports. The change affects visa categories such as O-1A for individuals with extraordinary ability, EB-1 and EB-2 green cards for highly skilled professionals, and national interest waivers. USCIS stated it will now consider participation by “male athletes competing against women” as a negative factor during visa evaluations.
According to USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser, the update is aimed at closing a perceived loophole that allowed biologically male athletes to leverage gender identity to gain a competitive edge in women’s sports. “It’s a matter of safety, fairness, respect, and truth,” Tragesser said, adding that only female athletes will be eligible for U.S. visas to compete in women’s sports under the revised criteria.
The move is in line with broader efforts by the Trump administration to regulate transgender participation in athletics. It follows a recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” and echoes similar measures implemented by state authorities and sports bodies, including a new policy adopted by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee last month. Critics argue the new policies target a small and vulnerable group, potentially infringing on their rights.
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