Vasquez gets his P-1 visa, heading back to U.S.

Elias Vasquez, Real Salt Lake's Guatemalan center back that's recently been stuck in his home country with visa issues, is set for a return to the United States after obtaining his P-1 visa.

Vasquez previously had what some around the club had called an artist or performance visa — presumably an O-1 visa — but when State Department technical infrastructure went down recently and unexpectedly, he ended up stuck in Guatemala.

Thankfully for the club, he's on his way back to the United States in short order, and that could be a real boon to their chances in the next two matches if he's available — but after that, he's off to the Gold Cup.

First up is a U.S. Open Cup match against Portland Timbers on Wednesday, which Vasquez might be available for, according to RSL Communications. Following shortly after is a July 4 match against Orlando City and — of course — Kaka, who has remarkably done alright in MLS in his first year.

Demar Phillips, left back, should be available for both of those matches as well, which should help mitigate the difficulty of losing five players for the Gold Cup.

Following those matches, both players will definitely depart for the Gold Cup (barring any unforeseen circumstances), and RSL is back in the same spot. But at least it's something positive in the short-term — and at least they get another young, exciting player back in the team.