International

Can International College Tennis Players Make NIL Money?

Yes, with limits. On an F-1 visa, where the work happens matters as much as what it is. What schools and lawyers say is lower risk.

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Where you stand when you do the work can matter as much as the deal itself. On an F-1 student visa, work done inside the U.S. without authorization breaks your status, and NIL sits in a gray zone. The law firm Steptoe put it this way in July 2026: "DHS has not yet issued comprehensive NIL-specific guidance for international student-athletes." That leaves you real options, just narrower ones. Here is what schools and immigration lawyers describe as of October 2026. Talk to your school's international student office and an immigration attorney before you sign anything.

Why the visa is the catch

F-1 rules let you work on campus up to 20 hours a week during the school year. Work off campus needs separate authorization. The rule that matters most is one line in federal regulations: "Any unauthorized employment by a nonimmigrant constitutes a failure to maintain status." Paid posts, appearances and endorsements are widely viewed as likely to count as work.

The usual work programs rarely help. Training programs like CPT have to be part of your degree, and the University of Florida's international office says "it is rare that an NIL activity will qualify." That matters for tennis more than any other college sport: more than 60 percent of Division I tennis is international, Patrick McEnroe told Congress in September 2026, in a hearing about a bill that would cap international roster spots.

What schools describe as lower risk

Two lanes come up again and again. The first is passive income: royalties, licensing, or money for the use of photos that already exist. Syracuse's athletics department says passive income is "typically not considered employment under U.S. immigration law" and is "generally permissible," while warning that the government's reading "may ultimately differ."

The second lane is NIL done entirely outside the U.S. The University of Maine's guidance says that work abroad "is not likely to cause a violation of status in the U.S., even if the student receives income that is paid (at the time or later) in the U.S." In college basketball, UConn's Aaliyah Edwards signed with adidas Canada in February 2024 but could not promote the deal while in the U.S. Charleston's Ante Brzovic did social media work while home in Croatia.

What to avoid while you're in the U.S.

The University of Maine lists paid NIL work done in the U.S. that "could be considered unauthorized employment," including "Signing autographs," "Appearing for photos," "Filming videos or advertisements," and "Promoting products/brands on social media." That last one is the trap for a tennis player with a following. A sponsored post you film and publish at home over winter break is treated very differently in school guidance from the same post made in your dorm.

The revenue-share question

Under the House settlement, Division I schools can pay athletes directly, starting with the 2025-26 school year. For international players, lawyers disagree. Some schools structure the payment as a passive license to use your name and image. The Big Ten built its template agreement that way partly with international athletes in mind, according to Sportico. Immigration lawyer Benjamin Snyder, who has advised schools across the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12, told Front Office Sports in April 2026, in a story about basketball players: "Unless and until the government tells us otherwise, this is a logically and legally coherent approach." Ksenia Maiorova, a partner at Green & Spiegel, disagreed in the same story: "Magic contractual language does not override the substance of the transaction."

If a school offers you money, ask how it is structured and get the answer in writing. Taxes work differently too. U.S.-source income for nonresidents is often withheld at 30 percent unless a tax treaty lowers it.

Build the brand on your calendar

The rules shape when you work, not whether your audience can grow. Your following travels with you. Post your tennis life all year the way you already do, without paid promotion in the U.S., and line up paid work in your home market for summer and winter breaks. Elite players sometimes look at other visas, but Steptoe notes the O-1A is "available to only a limited subset of student-athletes."

What a junior should post applies to you as much as anyone. Build it now, and the deals will still be there when your status allows them.

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FAQ

Can F-1 students make NIL money?

Some, with limits. Active NIL work inside the U.S., like paid posts or appearances, is widely viewed as likely to count as unauthorized employment. Schools and lawyers describe passive income and NIL work done entirely outside the U.S. as lower risk. As of October 2026 there is no comprehensive NIL guidance from DHS, so talk to your school's international office and an immigration attorney first.

Can international college athletes post sponsored content on Instagram?

School guidance such as the University of Maine's says paid social media promotion done in the U.S. could be considered unauthorized employment for F-1 students. Paid content created and published entirely outside the U.S. is described as not likely to violate status. Check with your school before any paid post.

Do international college athletes get House settlement revenue-sharing payments?

It depends on the school. Some structure the payments as passive licensing to accommodate international athletes, and lawyers disagree on whether that holds up. There is no government ruling as of October 2026. Nonresidents may also face 30 percent tax withholding unless a treaty applies.