Pro gamers now qualify for US visas as Professional Athletes

As a citizen of the US I often forget that getting into the country takes planning on the part of the traveler.  Visitors to this country often have to apply for a Visa even if they are just changing planes.  Well, it would seem that Pro Gamers now qualify for landing visas like other pro athletes opening up e-sports to be considered on the same level as chess or golf..  

The change, Beck said, could let non-American players join US teams: "It's like David Beckham coming to LA Galaxy." He said convincing US Immigration and Citizenship Services to offer players pro sports visas was "a long process" that hinged on proving League of Legends can offer people the chance to make a living as professionals. "A lot of people have been dismissive of it because they don't understand the scope of this," he said. "Our viewership numbers are stronger than 80 or 90 percent of the sports covered on ESPN."

This is a milestone moment for e-sports since it has long struggled to be defined as an actual professional sport despite some of the top players winning real money.  I guess now they need to work on proper drug testing and establish anti-doping rules. 

There is no indication as to how long a pro gamer can stay in the US but we can thank Riot Games for laying the groundwork and ensuring that our favorite League of Legends players will be able to complete for real cash money at events hosted in the US.

Related Web URL: http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/13/4520188/us-citiz...