USCIS publishes petition outcomes for Form I-129 by classification. Here is what the data says about the P classification (athletes, artists and entertainers), set beside O, H-1B and L-1. All percentages are computed from the USCIS counts: approvals divided by completions.
P classification outcomes
| Period | Received | Approved | Denied | Completions | Approved share | RFE share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 (Oct 1, 2024 - Sep 30, 2025) | 11,961 | 10,699 | 725 | 11,424 | 93.65% | 17.42% |
| FY2026 YTD (Oct 1, 2025 - Jun 30, 2026) | 7,599 | 6,589 | 614 | 7,203 | 91.48% | 19.85% |
How P compares
| Classification | FY2025 approved share | FY2026 YTD approved share |
|---|---|---|
| P (athletes, artists, entertainers) | 93.65% | 91.48% |
| O (O-1 and O-2) | 93.85% | 91.05% |
| H-1B | 97.85% | 97.05% |
| L-1A | 91.83% | 91.25% |
| L-1B | 92.33% | 91.27% |
Requests for evidence
A request for evidence (RFE) is not a denial. USCIS issued RFEs on 17.4% of completed P petitions in FY2025. Of the completions that involved an RFE, 67.6% ended in approval. In FY2026 so far the RFE share is 19.9% and 60.5% of those completions were approved.
How to read these numbers
- This is the whole P class, not the P-1 alone, and not Talent Bridges' rate.
- "Approved" and "denied" are initial decisions on completed petitions, so a denial can still be followed by a new filing or a motion.
- FY2026 covers only nine months, through June 30, 2026, so it is not directly comparable to a full year.
Planning a P-1 case? See the P-1 visa page and O-1 vs P-1. Download the underlying figures as CSV.
Talent Bridges is not a law firm. Every petition is prepared and reviewed in coordination with licensed US immigration attorneys.
Source: USCIS, I-129 quarterly request-for-evidence workbooks (FY2025 Q4 and FY2026 Q3), published on the USCIS Immigration and Citizenship Data page. Percentages calculated by Talent Bridges. This article is general information, not legal advice.