: Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:41 am  

Standee wrote:

are the rules the same for US citizens as Australians?

Yes

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:43 am  

Big Dave T wrote:

So he turns up and legally has to declare he has been turned down for a visa/entry. The individual there then makes their own mind up as to whether to send him away or not. Why waste time, why dont immigration just centrally tell him to not bother turning up cos he wont get in? I dont see the logic of the approach.

Circumstances may change. If he's acquitted of the charges, he will have no problem getting in (unless there is another reason for refusal). Until the court case, I'd say on the basis of the central immigration computer, that he hasn't a prayer.

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:55 am  

So basically, If Catalans were to fly in to Leeds/Bradford airport every week they come...If the Immigration officer was, say a Leeds fan, and they were playing Leeds, he could deny him entry and when they're playing Bradford/Saints etc. allow them in, its ludarous.

BTW I'm sure they're much more profesional but still....

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:58 am  

Rich1865 wrote:

So basically, If Catalans were to fly in to Leeds/Bradford airport every week they come...If the Immigration officer was, say a Leeds fan, and they were playing Leeds, he could deny him entry and when they're playing Bradford/Saints etc. allow them in, its ludarous.

BTW I'm sure they're much more profesional but still....

or go to a different airport untill he finds one that lets him in, then he will just fly there all the time then travel to where catalan are playing?

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:03 pm  

Holty wrote:

or go to a different airport untill he finds one that lets him in, then he will just fly there all the time then travel to where catalan are playing?

Thats my gripe. Things like this should never be down to the discretion of any individual person. It should never be upto them, especially if centrally immigration have turned him a visa down.

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:03 pm  

Rich1865 wrote:

So basically, If Catalans were to fly in to Leeds/Bradford airport every week they come...If the Immigration officer was, say a Leeds fan, and they were playing Leeds, he could deny him entry and when they're playing Bradford/Saints etc. allow them in, its ludarous.

BTW I'm sure they're much more profesional but still....

I would hope not!

TBH I'm hoping that other clubs (especially Bradford) kick off about this whole thing. It has the potential to be a massive loophole and could be seen, as people have said, to give Catalans an unfair advantage.

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:04 pm  

Chris28 wrote:

I would hope not!

TBH I'm hoping that other clubs (especially Bradford) kick off about this whole thing. It has the potential to be a massive loophole and could be seen, as people have said, to give Catalans an unfair advantage.

How does an appropriate 'kick off' happen?

Should the RFL capture a central complaint from all member clubs?

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:07 pm  

Chris28 wrote:

I would hope not!

TBH I'm hoping that other clubs (especially Bradford) kick off about this whole thing. It has the potential to be a massive loophole and could be seen, as people have said, to give Catalans an unfair advantage.

Bradford have strangely given their blessing I believe.

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:10 pm  

PAUL M wrote:

Bradford have strangely given their blessing I believe.

all the reports seem to suggest so, I agree, it's all very odd.

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:11 pm  

Big Dave T wrote:

How does an appropriate 'kick off' happen?

Should the RFL capture a central complaint from all member clubs?

Letters to local MPs who then write to the Immigration Minister (Phil Woolas) to protest, the RFL could write to the Sport Minister if enough people forced their hand. He could take it up a notch and write to the Home Secretary (Woolas's boss).

Individuals could follow the same path (my MP is the ex sports Minister Richard Caborn).

I'm not convinced it would have an effect, but raisng it could at least get people thinking about it.