The Home Office has announced significant changes with respect to the definition of professional/amateur sportsmen, to take effect from 10 January 2019 and will affect all visas applied for and issued after that date. Those issued prior will need to adhere to the immigration policy that was in place at time of issue.
The headline changes are that the Professional Sportsperson definition has been amended regarding the introduction of time lapse provisions. To see the full definition please see page 4 & 5 of the 'Statement of Changes' document.
In brief, a person can revert to “amateur”, if they have not:
• Been registered to a Professional or Semi Professional team, including an academy and development age groups, within the last 4 years.
• Represented a Nation or National team, including all youth and development age groups from U17 upwards, within the last two years.
• Engaged an agent or representative with the aim of finding opportunities as a sportsperson, and/or developing a current or future career as a sportsperson, within the last 12 months.
• Received payment, including payment in kind for playing or coaching that is covering all, or the majority of their costs for travelling to, and living in the UK, or who has not done so within the last 4 years.
An addition to the definition is to include those who have an established International reputation in their chose field of sport. For example, those who only play T20 in the Big Bash & IPL and who do not play any other type of cricket. Will be classified as a Professional Sportsperson.
The Governing Body Endorsement criteria for the player/coach or coach only for the 2019 season is now on-line and found on this link: www.ecb.co.uk/governance/regulations/governing-body-endorsement?utm_campaign=1372279_
Notes:
The ECB is not registered to give advice on immigration. Information on aspects of immigration policy and law can be found on the Home Office website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-introduction?
The ECB stress it is essential for clubs to comply with the published Visa policy and clubs receiving non-EEA migrants must abide by these rules. The policy is written for all sports. It is not cricket specific.
A professional/semi-professional outfit in cricket is a team that has first-class status even if the matches in which the individual plays are not classified as first-class. Including U17 and above and Academy matches.
The headline changes are that the Professional Sportsperson definition has been amended regarding the introduction of time lapse provisions. To see the full definition please see page 4 & 5 of the 'Statement of Changes' document.
In brief, a person can revert to “amateur”, if they have not:
• Been registered to a Professional or Semi Professional team, including an academy and development age groups, within the last 4 years.
• Represented a Nation or National team, including all youth and development age groups from U17 upwards, within the last two years.
• Engaged an agent or representative with the aim of finding opportunities as a sportsperson, and/or developing a current or future career as a sportsperson, within the last 12 months.
• Received payment, including payment in kind for playing or coaching that is covering all, or the majority of their costs for travelling to, and living in the UK, or who has not done so within the last 4 years.
An addition to the definition is to include those who have an established International reputation in their chose field of sport. For example, those who only play T20 in the Big Bash & IPL and who do not play any other type of cricket. Will be classified as a Professional Sportsperson.
The Governing Body Endorsement criteria for the player/coach or coach only for the 2019 season is now on-line and found on this link: www.ecb.co.uk/governance/regulations/governing-body-endorsement?utm_campaign=1372279_
Notes:
The ECB is not registered to give advice on immigration. Information on aspects of immigration policy and law can be found on the Home Office website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-introduction?
The ECB stress it is essential for clubs to comply with the published Visa policy and clubs receiving non-EEA migrants must abide by these rules. The policy is written for all sports. It is not cricket specific.
A professional/semi-professional outfit in cricket is a team that has first-class status even if the matches in which the individual plays are not classified as first-class. Including U17 and above and Academy matches.
