By Jesse Marsh | First published July 2022, last updated September 2025 with new context on international NIL restrictions and legal challenges
TL;DR
- International student-athletes on F-1 visas remain barred from participating in NIL deals in the U.S.
- Loopholes exist (signing deals while in home country, rare O-1 or P-1A visas), but they’re limited and risky.
- A few athletes (like Lou Hedly, Jaz Shelley) found creative workarounds, but most are excluded.
- Advocacy for federal immigration reform and policy memos continues, but no sweeping changes yet.
- Result: 24,000+ international NCAA athletes remain locked out of NIL opportunities while their U.S. teammates profit.
July 1, 2021, marked a massive shift in the collegiate athletic landscape.
After countless calls over the past decade for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to revise its outdated amateurism rules, its Division I Board of Directors approved an interim Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy. The amendment allows college athletes nationwide to now hire agents, secure endorsement deals, and earn an income through their college athletic careers.
The NIL Era Begins
The ruling sent shockwaves into the intercollegiate athletics scene as athletes were ecstatic about finally having the opportunity to cash in on their hard work on the field, track, court, and pool.
We saw the first deal brokered a minute into the NIL era with Jackson State defensive end Antwan Owens signing an endorsement contract with Black-owned hair care company 3 Kings Grooming. Since then, tens of thousands of students have profited from their Name, Image, and Likeness. Some deals are as small as making a few hundred dollars from private lessons, and others are as big as the eight-million-dollar deal top high school football recruit Nico Iamaleava received when he committed to the University of Tennessee.
To put that into perspective, outside of the Power Five conferences and the American Athletic Conference (AAC), the quarterback will be making more than any head coach in college football.
Though numerous athletes have significantly benefited from the NIL era, one group yet to take advantage of the new ruling in the United States is international student-athletes.
2025 Update: NIL Access Still Blocked for International Athletes
Since this article was first written, the international NIL debate has only intensified. In September 2025, a federal judge in Washington, D.C. ruled against the U.S. government’s attempt to categorically block athletes on P-1A visas from NIL activity. The decision doesn’t open the door for every international athlete, but it suggests blanket bans may not hold up in court.
Still, the reality remains bleak for most of the more than 24,000 international NCAA athletes:
- F-1 visas remain restrictive. Anything resembling off-campus employment — autograph signings, paid appearances, or sponsored social posts — is considered off-limits.
- Loopholes are risky. Some athletes pursue NIL deals in their home countries during breaks, but immigration lawyers warn that consular officers can still deny visa renewals if they see NIL-linked content.
- Elite exceptions only. A handful of athletes have navigated paths such as O-1 visas (Hansel Emmanuel), P-1A visas (for internationally recognized competitors), or obtaining green cards based on Olympic-level achievement (Camryn Rogers). For the vast majority, these options are out of reach.
- Institutional caution. Universities have been advised not to help broker or facilitate NIL deals for international athletes due to compliance concerns.
The contrast is starker than ever: U.S. athletes are preparing to receive direct revenue-sharing payments in 2025–26 thanks to the House v. NCAA settlement, while their international teammates are left out entirely. Without federal policy change or a DHS memo redefining NIL as permissible “on-campus work,” the system continues to deepen inequities between American and international student-athletes.
Why International Athletes Are Left Out
International students who intend to enroll in educational institutions in the United States must obtain an F-1 or student visa to do so legally. Obtaining the visa comes with multiple stipulations and restrictions, such as the required number of credit hours per semester and the permitted areas of employment. According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), international students are only permitted to work on campus during their first year of academic study in the United States. After completing their first year, the students may work off-campus through Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) and/or pre-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Considering the above, it would seem that international student-athletes could potentially benefit from NIL opportunities after completing a year of education in the United States.
Wrong.
Through a CPT and pre-completion OPT, international students can work off-campus in America, provided the job is related to their field of study.
As one can imagine, no college major correlates with having a Milo’s Tea Company sponsorship or being a Lululemon athlete. That means it would be illegal for an international student-athlete to profit off their NIL. The only exception to the rule would be if they secured a deal while in their home country.
Workarounds and Rare Exceptions for the International Student Athlete NIL
We see this happen with the University of Miami (UM) Hurricanes’ football team.
Over the past year, while most of the Cane football team benefited from their NIL, punter Lou Hedly was ineligible to do so until a few weeks ago. After months of patiently waiting, the Ray Guy Award finalist, an accolade honoring the nation’s top punter, inked a NIL deal with Miami-based healthcare technology company LifeWallet. He was finally able to secure the partnership with the help of UM booster John Ruiz, who facilitated the deal in Hedly’s home country, Australia, thereby complying with USCIS laws.
Fellow Aussie and Nebraska basketball player Jaz Shelley has done something similar, partnering with clothing company BBB Printing and Mexican BBQ restaurant Muchachos.
While these two athletes have been able to find loopholes in the rules, they are the exceptions.
French Olympian and Arizona State freshman Leon Marchand does not profit from NIL despite being a 2-time NCAA Champion in men’s swimming and the fastest collegiate 200-yard individual medley swimmer in history. The same debacle applies to NCAA 100-meter champion and Bowerman award semi-finalist Julien Alfred from the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia.
The fact is that international athletes being unable to profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness is another barrier to success for a group that already faces numerous limitations on its freedom in the United States. These talented individuals come from all over the world and make significant sacrifices to pursue sports and education, in the hope of providing for their families in the future. With numerous roadblocks in their way, not having the opportunity to earn income through their NIL significantly diminishes the chance for prosperity for these young men and women.
So how can we change that?
There are a few ways. One is having more companies do what LifeWallet did for Hedly, such as broker deals with student-athletes while they are home for a summer break or a similar holiday.
Another is calling on the USCIS to update its outdated laws, primarily written in 1986 and 1996. Individuals can do so by contacting their congressional representatives to help push for a change in federal immigration laws. They can also sign petitions, such as the one NIL platform NOCAP Sports created three months ago, calling for USCIS to issue a Policy Memorandum that broadens or modernizes the current rules.
Just like Americans, international student-athletes have worked extremely hard to earn an opportunity to compete at the collegiate level. They should be rewarded, not punished, for working their way up to become some of the best athletes in their home nation and around the world.
To learn more about International Student-Athlete NIL view this resource.
FAQs: The International Student Athlete NIL Situation in 2025
Q: Can international athletes on F-1 visas participate in NIL?
Generally, no. F-1 visas restrict off-campus work unless it’s tied directly to the student’s academic field. NIL deals almost never qualify.
Q: Are there legal workarounds?
Yes, but only limited ones: (1) signing and fulfilling NIL deals while in the athlete’s home country, (2) obtaining O-1 or P-1A visas reserved for elite athletes, or (3) securing permanent residency (green card).
Q: Have there been recent legal developments?
In September 2025, a federal judge rejected the U.S. government’s attempt to categorically bar P-1A visa holders from NIL deals — a small but important signal that blanket bans may not hold.
Q: Do universities help international athletes with NIL?
Not directly. In fact, schools are warned not to facilitate NIL for international athletes, since it could be considered visa non-compliance.
Q: Is reform on the horizon?
Experts say real change would require updating F-1 visa rules or a DHS memo treating NIL as on-campus employment. With political gridlock in 2025, major change is unlikely in the near term.
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