US Government Restricts Sports Visa For Transgender Women

JAKARTA - The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) on Monday announced an update on immigration policies regarding visa eligibility restrictions for transgender women who want to compete in women's sports.

Based on this policy update, USCIS will consider "the fact that a male athlete has competed against women" as a negative factor when evaluating visa applications in categories such as O-1A for extraordinary capabilities, EB-1 and EB-2 green cards for high-performance workers, and national interest relief.

"USCIS closes the gap for foreign male athletes whose only chance of winning elite sports is to change their gender identity and take advantage of their biological advantage of women," USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser said.

"This is a matter of security, justice, respect, and the truth that only female athletes receive visas to come to the US to participate in women's sports," he added.

The move is in line with broader efforts by US President Donald Trump's administration to regulate transgender participation in sports and follow similar policies imposed at state levels across the country.

The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee last month renewed its policy in line with executive orders signed earlier this year by Trump which banned transgender women from competing in women's sports.

President Trump signed executive order 14201 "Avoiding Men from Women's Sports" on February 5, 2025, a directive his supporters said would restore justice, but critics argue it violates the rights of minority athletes.