Last-Tear Poa, an Australian basketball player for LSU, has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after her P-1A Athlete visa application was denied. The lawsuit, first reported by On3, challenges USCIS’s decision following Poa’s substantial contributions to the Tigers, including their first national championship title in the 2022-23 season. Hailing from Melbourne, Poa joined LSU in 2022 after showcasing her talent at Northwest Florida State College, where she established herself as one of the nation’s top junior college prospects.

The P-1A visa is designed for internationally recognized athletes who can demonstrate their intent to compete at a major level in the U.S. Poa applied to change status from F-1 to P-1A to participate in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, which allow college athletes to profit from their personal brands. While NIL rights were officially legalized by the NCAA on July 1, 2021, the lack of clear guidance from USCIS on how international athletes on F-1 status can navigate these regulations leaves many, like Poa, in uncertain positions. International athletes make up about 12% of all Division I student-athletes, the absence of effective guidance continues to create challenges for a significant portion of the most talented collegiate athletes. Poa’s case highlights the pressing need for clearer policies and could potentially bring much-needed attention to the complexities surrounding NIL participation for international athletes.