Q&A on the News

Q: If a baseball player is from another country, does he become a U.S. citizen or just play on a green card? —Martha Hunt, Hoschton

A: Baseball players, and other athletes, typically use the P-1A visa. The P-1A classification applies to individuals who are “coming to the U.S. temporarily to perform at a specific athletic competition as an athlete, individually or as part of a group or team, at an internationally recognized level of performance,” according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.

Some athletes also use the O-1 visa, which the USCIS website says is for individuals who possess “extraordinary ability” in athletics, as well as the arts, education, sciences and business.

Q: What’s the difference between a consulate and an embassy? — Lance DeLoach, Thomaston

A: An embassy is “the official office of an ambassador in a foreign country and the office that handles the political relations of one nation with another,” according to The Associated Press.

The consulate, “the office of a consul in a foreign city, handles the commercial affairs and personal needs of citizens of the appointing country.”

Q&A on the News runs Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404222-2002 or email q&a@ajc. com (include name, phone and city).