Interim Decision #1937 

MATTER or MASTERS 

In Visa Petition Proceedings 

A-14096410 

Decided by District Director January 22, 1969 

Since beneficiary, an outstanding professional tournament golfer, is a person 

of exceptional ability in the arts, she is accorded preference classification 

under section 203(a) (3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as 

amended. 

The petition seeks to classify the beneficiary as a preference 

immigrant under section 208(a) (3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, s amended, either as a member of the professions 

within the meaning of section 101 (a) (32) of the Act, or upon the 

basis of her exceptional ability as a professional tournament 

golfer. 

The beneficiary is a citizen of Australia, born October 24, 1934, 

in Australia. She intends to engage in her calling as • a. professional tournament golfer in the United States. 

A certification pursuant to section 212(a) (14) of the Act, as 

amended, has been issued by the Department of Labor. 

Section 203 (a) (8) of the Act, as amended, provides for the 

availability of visas to qualified immigrants who are members of 

the professions, or who because of their exceptional ability in the 

sciences or the arts, will substantially benefit prospectively the 

national economy, cultural interests or welfare of the United 

States. 

Section 101 (a) (32) of the Act, as amended, defines the term 

"profession." However, no definition of the terms "arts" or "sciences" is contained within the Act. The term "profession" is defined as including, but not being limited to architects, engineers, 

lawyers, physicians, surgeons and teachers in elementary or secondary schools, colleges, academies or seminaries. 

It has been held consistently that recognition as a member of 

the professions normally requires the successful completion of a 

course of education on the college or university level, culminating 

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Interim Decision #1937 

in the attainment of a specific degree or diploma. The attainment 

of such degree or diploma or the equivalent in specialized experience is usually the minimum requirement for entry into the occupation. As golf and other sports do not require high acadeniic or 

mental preparation but primarily physical dexterity, enhanced by 

training and experience, it is concluded that the beneficiary, a 

professional tournament golfer, is not a member of the professions within the meaning of section 101 (a) (32) of the Act. 

Science is defined in Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary as 

"(1) Knowledge obtained by study and practice. (2) Any department of systemitized knowledge." It is clear that sports do not 

fall within these definitions. Art is defined as "(I) Skill in performance acquired by experience, study. or observation • knack." 

Modern English Usage, by Fowler, includes in the definition of 

artiste, a professional singer, dancer, or other public performer 

and states that when an artiste makes his occupation into a fine 

art, he becomes an artist. 

It has been determined that professional tournament golfers 

are basically entertainers and may be included within the arts, in 

the sense that the term is used in section 203 (a) (3) of the Act, 

as amended, if such golfers have the exceptional ability required 

by that section. Professional tournament golfers entertain thousands of paying spectators at the golf courses and literally millions of viewers who watch tournament action on television during weekends. 

Title 3, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 204.2(f) provides 

that: "if the alien's eligibility is based on a claim of exceptional 

ability in the sciences or the arts, documentary evidence supporting the claim must be submitted by the petitioner. Such evidence 

may attest to the universal acclaim and either the national or international recognition accorded to the alien; that he has received 

a nationally or internationally recognized prize or award, or won 

a nationally or internationally recognized competition for excellence for a specific product or performance or for outstanding 

achievements ; or that he is a member of a national or international association of persons which maintains standards of membership recognizing outstanding achievements, judged by recognized national or international experts in a specific discipline or 

field of endeavor." 

Evidence in the form of newspaper clippings, professional 

tournament brochures, and a letter from the President of the Ladies Professional Golf. Association of the United States, of which 

the alien is a member, establishes that the beneficiary has won 

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Interim Decision #1987 

major professional golf tournaments in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. She has competed against the best women golfers in the world. During 1967 

she was the tenth highest money winner among professional 

women golfers competing in the United States. 

The evidence submitted establishes that the beneficiary is a 

person of exceptional ability in the art of playing professional 

tournament golf who will substantially benefit prospectively the 

national economy of the United States. 

ORDER: It is ordered that the petition to classify the status of 

Margaret Ann Masters as a preference immigrant under section 

203 (a) (3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, 

be and is hereby approved. 

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