: Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:33 pm  

Didn't redeverready post a link that showed the terms of a french visa etc. That would be really helpful again

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:57 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

No he isn't. A visa is per country. A visa for France doesn't permit you to enter the UK any more than a visa to enter say Poland does.

You are confused with the exemption that IF HE WERE GRANTED A VISA, he could do paid work here for 80 minutes a fortnight for his French employer.

But seen as he "works" and is based in France wouldn't he only need his passport to enter the UK on a temporary basis? If your argument is true then surely all Catalans players MUST have both French and UK Visa's?

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:32 am  

cymraegrhino wrote:

But seen as he "works" and is based in France wouldn't he only need his passport to enter the UK on a temporary basis? If your argument is true then surely all Catalans players MUST have both French and UK Visa's?

No. the aardvark is right. All people from outside the EU need leave to enter the UK. Catalans Aussies must satisfy an immigration officer on arrival in the UK that they qualify for entry to do what they want to do, even for a temporary stay. They don't need UK visas, just permission to enter the UK.

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:20 am  

In my opinion, The RFL should insist that all teams agree that if a player is refused entry in to any state which has an SL team, they are refused permission to play in the comp. this could easily be written into the competition rules and would make the comp fair. It requires no action by MPs or UK border authority. If catalans dont agree to it, chuck them out!

this would not help us now, but would ensure fairness in the future!

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:32 am  

Chris28 wrote:

No. the aardvark is right. All people from outside the EU need leave to enter the UK. Catalans Aussies must satisfy an immigration officer on arrival in the UK that they qualify for entry to do what they want to do, even for a temporary stay. They don't need UK visas, just permission to enter the UK.

Do they need my permission?
I'm not letting Bird in in that case. Unless they are playing anyone else apart from us.

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:43 am  

So unless the Border agency has a major change of heart - it seems likely that Bird will only be able to play Catalans home games. If that is correct then I would think that would be more trouble than it is worth.

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:46 am  

Highlander wrote:

So unless the Border agency has a major change of heart - it seems likely that Bird will only be able to play Catalans home games. If that is correct then I would think that would be more trouble than it is worth.

I don't know about that.

I'm fairly sure different procedures will apply when they know someone is only going to be in the country for a couple of days, as part of a travelling sports team, as opposed to being allowed leave to settle here.

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 11:22 am  

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/catalan/7904670.stm The UK Borders Agency has no objection to him playing in France but says it will be up to individual immigration officers at UK airports to decide whether he should be allowed access into the UK.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/catalan/7904670.stm The UK Borders Agency has no objection to him playing in France but says it will be up to individual immigration officers at UK airports to decide whether he should be allowed access into the UK.

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 11:27 am  

Chris28 wrote:

No. the aardvark is right. All people from outside the EU need leave to enter the UK. Catalans Aussies must satisfy an immigration officer on arrival in the UK that they qualify for entry to do what they want to do, even for a temporary stay. They don't need UK visas, just permission to enter the UK.

And as a decision on a specific individual has already been made, which decided, apparently, that his presence here is not conducive to the public good, his only proper route would be to appeal that decision.

And whilst I don't know enough about the Immigration Rules to be absolutely certain, despite what the artricle cited above suggests, I'd be extremely surprised if it is even possible for another person in the Border Agency to override the decision already made at that level. It would be an appeal by the back door, plus it would mean there was nothing to stop a person attempting to enter again and again until they found an official who let them in.

If his presence is indeed deemed not to be conducive to the public good, then I don't see how it makes any difference if his presence is only to be for a few days. It either is conducive, or it isn't.

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:06 pm  

Hood not happy

Hood not happy