Empire Strykers Face Visa Challenges with Star Signing

The Empire Strykers are striving to form a championship-caliber team but are hindered by U.S. immigration regulations concerning their latest signing, Genaro Castillo, the Major Arena Soccer League's reigning MVP. Despite his impressive performance, Castillo's work visa application is uncertain, as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) does not classify the MASL as a major sports league, a stance that complicates his eligibility.

Oliver King, the Strykers' general manager, emphasized that the USCIS's definition of a major league poses significant obstacles for players like Castillo, who has only participated in U.S. competitions under a business visa tied to his Mexican team. The tightening of visa criteria has led to multiple denials of P-1 visa applications for the Strykers in recent years, affecting their ability to recruit international talent.

At 31, Castillo is eager to join the Strykers and contribute to their success, expressing his commitment to overcoming these legal hurdles. With the MASL season starting soon, the team hopes to resolve Castillo's visa situation promptly.