How far in advance do they apply for the visa?

I think the RFL and UKBA have done a fair bit of work between them, especially after the various embarassing c0ck ups that have occurred, FC are probably just covering their backsides before comitting to anything.

I presume once player and club have agreed terms they would apply straight away. Especially after recent years and players having visa problems. I would also expect a clause in any contract stating that if a visa is not granted then the contract is null and void.

Didn't I read a few months back that the RFL have finally fallen into line with other sports like Ice Hockey and Speedway and are working directly with immigration on visa approval and expedited processing.

If they want him over before Christmas, no need to do anything till September/October tbh.

I reckon, as Standee says, they'll just be checking things out now to make sure there's no surprises when the application goes in.

There was a recent agreement between the RFL and UKBA that was supposed to bridge the gap in speed of Visa processing between RL and most other sports. I think part of that was some clarified guidelines for the clubs.

Yes, I think you did. Still won't mean the visa gets approved though. You'll just get the refusal quicker!

Here it is, frankly I don't know why it took them so long, other sports have been doing it for years. www.code13rugbyleague.com/2011/0 ... -diminish/

Here it is, frankly I don't know why it took them so long, other sports have been doing it for years. www.code13rugbyleague.com/2011/0 ... -diminish/

rlYou did, April this yearrl

Excellent post and imo this is more of a reason fans [imight[/i be staying away rather than anything to do with the was the moderators run it.

That said as moderators we have to accept that it has gone this way as many fans feel so fed up with certain things at the club namely Agar. We can't ask posters to be positive or negative we just have to moderate what people discuss. We do try to keep thread subjects together though so we don't have too many threads discussing the same thing.

Until he moved to NZ it was colourful to say the least, but I don't think it included any criminal convictions.

The club issues a certificate of sponsorship and that must be used within 3 months of issue to support a visa application, so if done today it would expire on 23 September. On that basis there's no reason why the club can't (if the deal is done) do that now. Seymour then applies for the visa, and if everything is OK it would normally be issued from Oz in 3-4 weeks. Last visa application I did from there was done is about that. The only problem is that in their wisdom, UKBA have centralised the South Asia/Australasia visa operation at a hub in Manila, which in my view adds to the delay

It does make me wonder how the FA and football manage to secure work permits and visa's so easily. I cannot think of any pro football player in recent times been refused a visa. Maybe the RFL should have words with the FA and see how its done.

They can't agree preset criteria on convictions as they're linked to the individual and have to be considered, as Crocker's was, separately. What they could agree is that anyone who has a fine of more than £X, or has spent any time in clink, for example, shouldn't bother applying. The visa application has to be balanced between the requirement to have the person here for UK economic reasons and the need to stop dodgy people getting here (which is why I wouldn't have refused Crocker - regardless of my loyalties)