Like I said before, there's no proof that Blizzard isn't already trying to lobby for work visas. What I have mentioned is their stubbornness on LAN.

and how is that comparison even close to mine?

Okay, let's play a fun game!

SC2
DotA2
LoL
HoN
CoD
World of Tanks

Which of these has official LAN support? And which of these spent millions to have a tournament in the Staples Centre and to lobby the government for athlete status?

Comparisons are fun when you make them as bad as possible!

fenrysk

United States364 Posts

July 26 2013 00:56 GMT

#387

so in Season 3 or next year, i hope Blizzard will have obatined athlete visas or alternative entertainer/performer-of-special-skillset visas for players in the WCS system in the way that Riot has done so all this poopstorm can be avoided.

I do feel sorry for Jim's situation.

RuskiPanda

United States2906 Posts

July 26 2013 00:56 GMT

#388

Here's the deal: to get a US work visa for esports that you (largely) non-americans can't seem to understand page after page in this thread is that you have to be employed in a stable sports league. The reason this worked out for Riot after a lot of time and effort is because their LCS system is a regularly scheduled league that pays its players with clear documentation. WCS does NOT have a stable roster of salaried, consistent players and is essentially no different from regular SC2 tournaments apart from scale and some stability in the form of Challenger-Premier. Players may get a consistent reward from staying in the WCS system in the form of prizepool but they are NOT employed by Blizzard in any form like the LCS players are by Riot.

If you want Blizzard to throw more money at WCS to make it a salaried, regularly scheduled sports league like LCS then that's completely different from thinking that players can't get visas because Blizzard is evil and isn't throwing whatever weight you think it has at the US government. LCS does not make a profit for Riot and is largely for the sake of maintaining their competitive scene and attracting new players. SC2 is not free to play and if you think there is some big untapped market of players who will be attracted to it because of some sponsored competitive league you will be sorely mistaken. Sure Blizzard could run it at a loss for the sake of #ESPORTS but in no way are they obligated to.

Bagration

United States18282 Posts

July 26 2013 01:00 GMT

#389

That is so sad. He just got screwed over in 2 premier tournaments.

Jacmert

Canada1709 Posts

July 26 2013 01:10 GMT

#390

Clearly we must all e-mail Blizzard's sponsors to complain about their shameful WCS behavior: https://twitter.com/Visa

wptlzkwjd

Canada1240 Posts

July 26 2013 01:10 GMT

#391

On July 26 2013 09:52 havok55 wrote:

Show nested quote +

WCS AM finals, not IEM finals.

Sorry, I haven't been paying much attention to the pro SC2 scene lately but...what do the WCS AM finals have to do with IEM Shanghai?

MrMedic

Canada452 Posts

July 26 2013 01:13 GMT

#392

Visas have always been a a big problem

Mutaller

United States1051 Posts

July 26 2013 01:14 GMT

#393

Damn first there was blizzard's wcs bullshit now they have visa issues. I really feel sorry for these Chinese players.

Fionn

United States23455 Posts

July 26 2013 01:24 GMT

#394

Response from Jim's coach now added to OP.

JBright

Vancouver14381 Posts

July 26 2013 01:26 GMT

#395

On July 26 2013 10:10 wptlzkwjd wrote:

Show nested quote +

Sorry, I haven't been paying much attention to the pro SC2 scene lately but...what do the WCS AM finals have to do with IEM Shanghai?

Jim was playing in IEM Shanghai but had to leave for his visa appointment. That took a while so IEM DQ'd him. Not only that, his visa application for WCS AM was denied so he got screwed both ways.

Ventris

Germany1226 Posts

July 26 2013 01:31 GMT

#396

Sad day for Jim

On a sidenote: Really annoying how people seem to be unable to comprehend visa policy in the US even after it has been explained multiple times in this very thread. I always thought the ability to read was one of the basics in education <.<

Fischbacher

Canada666 Posts

July 26 2013 01:43 GMT

#397

On July 26 2013 09:46 haduken wrote:
Haven't read the thread, but a quick one...

How come Dota chinese players can get visa easily?

Because they apply much further in advance. The applications for Jim and Macsed had to be last minute since they didn't know they'd be playing until last week, while in reality they would probably need a 3 to 4 months heads-up to be safe.

mikumegurine

Canada3145 Posts

July 26 2013 01:50 GMT

#398

On July 26 2013 10:43 Fischbacher wrote:

Show nested quote +

hmmm

seems that maybe

they should have ordered the plane tickets and got the visas several months beforehand, even before they knew if they were in top 16 or not

only risk is canceling the plane ticket and getting refund, if dont make it to top 16?

Depending on airline and destination, cancellation fees can be as high as $250
Reservations must be cancelled prior to the flight departure.

basically, just order the plane tickets and get visa 1 year earlier, then if dont make it to top of 16, pay the cancel fee, and get refund on tickets

also, why does he need Blizzard invitation to get a travelers visa?

if people want to go to US for sightseeing, they dont need someone to make an invitation letter for them, they just simply apply for a non-immigrant traveler visa...

Baroninthetree

United States473 Posts

July 26 2013 01:52 GMT

#399

I really don't get the IEM DQ things. They already rescheduled Grubby's game but DQed Jim?
My only explanation is they value Korean and European more than Chinese.

It's like the last WCS DQed incident all over again.
And the event is even held in China. How ironic!

sc14s

United States5052 Posts

July 26 2013 02:00 GMT

#400

On July 25 2013 19:04 Cokefreak wrote:
Visas are killing eSports.

here in 'murica we enjoy destroying e-sports