S. 3054: Name, Image, and Likeness for International Collegiate Athletes Act

This bill makes nonimmigrant student visas (F visas) available to college athletes who enter into endorsement contracts involving the individual’s name, image, or likeness.

The visa is available to individuals enrolled in a U.S. institution of higher education who intend to contract for the commercial use of their name, image, or likeness (i.e., endorsement contracts).

The bill authorizes the visa holder to obtain employment authorization for the purpose of engaging in activities related to such contracts. (Under current law, student visa holders must obtain employment authorization to perform off-campus work. The off-campus work must either be related to the student’s field of study or in response to severe economic hardship due to unforeseen circumstances, subject to further requirements.)

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.