Did elite runners from other countries have any trouble obtaining visas in order to compete in the Boston Marathon?

Boston Globe

17-04-2025

More than 40 countries, half in Africa, are on the draft list that would ban or restrict their citizens from entering the United States.
But this year's Marathon, which will be held for the 129th time on Monday morning, wasn't affected. All of the invited foreign runners have their papers in order.
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'Everybody got their visas this year,' said Mary Kate Shea, the Boston Athletic Association's senior director, who recruits the professional men's and women's fields. 'We didn't have any issues at all.'
The elite group includes representatives from 18 foreign countries. Most of them — from Europe and Japan — come under the US Citizenship and Immigration Service's Visa Waiver Program.
But the Kenyans, Ethiopians, Eritreans, and the rest of the African competitors need to have the P-1 visa for international athletes and their support people.
The BAA, which handles travel and housing arrangements for the top runners, won't make their bookings without it. 'It's beholden on the athlete to have that visa in hand,' said Shea. 'It doesn't make sense to bring someone over who can't get into the country.'
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Most of the runners who compete frequently in the US, where three of the World Marathon Majors are staged, already have the visas, which are good for up to five years.
Some, such as Kenya's Hellen Obiri, who'll be chasing a third consecutive Boston crown, and countrywomen Edna Kiplagat, also a two-time champion, plus returning runner-up Sharon Lokedi, train in the States.
Everyone without a visa goes through the application process, which can take weeks and costs a little more than $1,000.
'As soon as they get invited to Boston, which could be as early as August but mostly September-October-November, they're already starting the application process,' said Shea. 'They will try to go for the longest amount of time for that visa. The time factor is inherent. It's something they always come to expect.'
The BAA provides an invitation letter that athletes include with their application packet. 'The letter would include their passport information, date of birth, when they'll be in the US, the dates of the Boston Marathon, which hotel they'll be staying at,' said Shea. 'All those types of details that each embassy is looking for.'
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Sometimes glitches derail the process. When Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai set an unofficial world record here in 2011, he didn't receive his visa until the 11th hour. Nor did countrywoman Rita Jeptoo when she won in 2006. Kenya's Robert Cheboror, a top contender in 2005, didn't get his visa until days after he'd scratched.
'We actually don't know where the issue is,' Shea said about the occasional holdups. 'It could be in filing the application. It could be the application process. It could be the embassy wait list. There are so many variables that it's hard for us to say.'
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Events such as the global pandemic, which delayed Boston for six months in 2021 and crammed five majors into six weeks that fall, slow the process for everyone. 'COVID put in a curveball for a lot of countries because the embassies were overburdened,' Shea said.
When delays occur the BAA may enlist help from Massachusetts senators to move the process along. 'Because their offices are in Boston they can help clarify for the processing agent in the embassies in Nairobi and Addis Ababa what a world-class event the Boston Marathon is,' said Shea. 'So there is nothing lost in translation.'
Last year Kenya's Sabastian Sawe, the world half marathon champion, hadn't received his visa for the BAA 10K as the June race approached.
'It was getting to be difficult to meet the timeline to get on a plane to Boston,' Shea said. 'We contacted Senator [Elizabeth] Warren's office. Her staff is amazing. They understand running in Boston and they understand who the BAA is. We were able to work with them and assist the athlete and the agent in creating the packet and the details that had to be included so that Sabastian could get the visa appointment in Nairobi.'
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe, winner of last year BAA 10K, hadn't received his visa as the June race approached.
Kayla Bartkowski For The Boston Globe
The timeline for the Marathon is designed to get the athletes here the Thursday before the race. 'They can have a course tour, do training, get some good food and sleep, get over the jet lag,' said Shea. 'All that stuff.'
John Powers can be reached at