A special thank you to former Navigate intern, Hayley Manners, for her contributions to the below.

The estimated value of the NIL industry is expected to surge to over 1.67 billion dollars this upcoming academic year. Within the NCAA there are currently more than 25,000 international student athletes who will miss out on money because of their inability  to leverage their name, image, and likeness.

NIL in its current form, is essentially influencer marketing for NCAA collegiate athletes.  According to Opendorse, 62.5% of NIL activities are done through social media, with that category also being the top activity type by compensation.

Three years after the beginning of this new NIL era, there remains a large population who are not permitted to participate. There are over 25,000 international student athletes in the NCAA, many of whom are studying in the United States with an F-1 Visa (commonly referred to as the student-visa). This immigration status places strict limitations on these student athletes at the federal level, which prevent them from maximizing their NIL. The key rules and regulations of the F-1 Visa status are as follows:

* CPT (Curricular Practical Training) and OPT (Optional Practical Training) are both employment opportunities available to international students on F-1 visas in the United States

Given these restrictions, several international student athletes are beginning to explore other immigration statuses that may grant them permission to participate in revenue-generating NIL activities. Three of the statuses that student athletes have successfully held in the past include:

  • Maintaining dual citizenship in the U.S. and their home country
  • The P-1A visa (commonly referred to as the pro athlete visa)
  • The O-1 (extraordinary ability visa)
Former Navigate intern, Hayley Manners, shares her insight on navigating NIL as an international student athlete

In my own experience, navigating NIL has been a challenging process. From July 1st, 2021, to the present day, there’s been a lack of tangible resources and guidelines for international student athletes at across the institutional, NCAA, and federal levels. My initial understanding of name, image, and likeness was that student athletes could now be real influencers – getting paid to work with their favorite brands, getting PR packages, attending special events, etc. However, I did not know that participating in these activities without considering my F-1 Visa status could have major implications.

As someone who has always had an interest in influencing, this rule change felt like both a breakthrough and a rejection. I was discouraged when my American teammates were able to take advantage of NIL opportunities, and I was advised to not participate. However, after doing my own research and seeking out external advice, I realized that there is still value in building a strong brand for myself. When the time comes for a federal rule change, or my Visa status changes, I’ll be in a great position to work with my favorite brands.

International Student Athlete Success Stories

Some examples of foreign athletes who have successfully overcome this barrier are Canadians Camryn Rogers and Aaliyah Edwards. Camryn Rogers was a collegiate track and field athlete that studied at the University of California and was also a world champion hammer thrower. This gave her the ability to apply for a secure a P1-A visa, which in turn, allowed her to pursue NIL deals in her final year of NCAA eligibility. Aaliyah Edwards, the UCONN women’s basketball sensation and 5th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, was an F-1 visa recipient, but given her success, flew home to Canada to sign a major deal with Adidas. She was able to do this because the deal was executed in her home country. This indicates that there are still ways that international student athletes can complete NIL deals, but that the circumstances for each athlete will be a unique, case-by-case basis.

Moving Forward

Navigating immigration statuses on top of team and academic responsibilities is a heavy burden for this subset of athletes to bear. Institutions and athletic departments should continue to develop resources specifically for international student athletes to help them explore the best path for their situation. In fact, it could become a competitive advantage for universities that find a way to offer better financial resources to international student athletes.

In the meantime, student athletes should focus on building their personal brand by engaging with their community via social media and biding their time. They can also complete NIL deals in their home country if the opportunity presents itself. Ultimately, federal change is needed in order for international student athletes to benefit from NIL to the same extent as their U.S. counterparts.

Questions about the ever-changing world of NIL? Email INFO@NVGT.com