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viOLet recognized as Athlete by the US government

Forum Index > SC2 General
217 CommentsPost a Reply
1 2 3 4 5 9 10 11 Next All
partydude89
Profile Blog Joined August 2012
1850 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-12-11 18:21:23
December 11 2013 17:19 GMT
#1
As far as the United States government is concerned, eSports and traditional sports are equal.

Five months after American immigration officials first cleared professional video game players to apply for the same visas as traditional athletes, the first StarCraft 2 pro has finally obtained a P-1A visa. Kim “Violet” Dong Hwan, a 23-year-old South Korean professional StarCraft player, followed trailblazing League of Legends star Danny Le to become an internationally recognized athlete on Dec. 9.

Kim said he teared up over the phone when he was finally assured that he’d be allowed to live, compete, and earn a salary in the United States for at least the next five years. He called it a “life-changing” event. Kim's ultimate goal is to become an American citizen.

“It was do or die for [Kim],” said Andrew Tomlinson, whose Cyber Solutions Agency (CSA) represents Kim. “He either got the visa or entered the Korean military.”

The CSA published a triumphant press release just minutes ago.

Kim's professional gaming career has been in limbo since he took a triumphant silver medal at the North American StarLeague in December 2012. He was denied student visas to study English three times in 2013, causing him to forfeit three times in the World Championship Series, a $1.6 million competition that he repeatedly committed to, despite being unsure that he could actually compete.

Following the competitions, rumors swirled that Kim had overstayed previous visas. Tomlinson shot down those allegations. “We never broke any rules,” he said. “He wouldn’t have been granted the visa if he broke those rules. Those are serious violations.”

Despite winning nearly $100,000 in prizes and signing a contract with Azubu worth $50,000 in 2012, Kim faced slim pickings in tournaments in 2013.


Read the entire artcle here! http://www.dailydot.com/esports/kim-violet-dong-hwan-recognized-athlete-us-government

CSA official press release http://www.cybersolutionsagency.com/articles/news/eSports/12/Korean-Pro-Gamer-viOLet-Secures-5-Year-Pro-Athlete-Visa/
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#1 Official Hack Fan|#2 Bomber behind Wintex.|Curious|Life|Flash|TY|Cure|Maru|sOs|Jin Air Green Wings fighting!|SBENU Fighting!|
partydude89
Profile Blog Joined August 2012
1850 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-12-11 17:52:51
December 11 2013 17:20 GMT
#2
can a mod change the title to "violet recognized as Athlete Under US Government" it wouldn't let me make the title that long

EDIT: Thanks!
#1 Official Hack Fan|#2 Bomber behind Wintex.|Curious|Life|Flash|TY|Cure|Maru|sOs|Jin Air Green Wings fighting!|SBENU Fighting!|
KadaverBB
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Germany25657 Posts
December 11 2013 17:22 GMT
#3
done.
AdministratorLaws change depending on who's making them, but justice is justice
asongdotnet
Profile Blog Joined March 2012
United States1060 Posts
December 11 2013 17:24 GMT
#4
good for violet!
mYiKane
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
Canada1772 Posts
December 11 2013 17:24 GMT
#5
WOOOOOOOOOOOO~!!!!!!!!!! VIOLETS COMING BACK BOYS!
Aeromi
Profile Blog Joined August 2012
France14458 Posts
December 11 2013 17:24 GMT
#6
What a good news !
https://twitter.com/DrAeromi | Updates on live tournaments: @StarCrafteSport
Keeemy
Profile Joined November 2012
Finland7855 Posts
December 11 2013 17:25 GMT
#7
viOLet you sexy mofo <3

Great news for SC2 and esports as well
Hello
NovaMB
Profile Joined February 2013
Germany9534 Posts
December 11 2013 17:25 GMT
#8
Hmm I keep getting malware warnings on that site.

Congrats to Violet!
And I hope this puts an end to all the visa issues that've been going on this year.
lystier
Profile Blog Joined August 2013
China877 Posts
December 11 2013 17:26 GMT
#9
so, it's possible to get a athlete visa, get to the us, become a citizen and eventually avoid the korean military?
i guess a group of players would love this...
Startale forever.
Ctone23
Profile Blog Joined December 2012
United States1839 Posts
December 11 2013 17:27 GMT
#10
Yes!!! Does this mean we get to see him stream again???? Please please please
TL+ Member
Gorlin
Profile Joined November 2010
United States2753 Posts
December 11 2013 17:27 GMT
#11
Incredible news, viOLet is such a great guy. Awesome to have him back
Infinite976
Profile Joined October 2010
United States92 Posts
December 11 2013 17:28 GMT
#12
super cool, that's big news!
Lazzi
Profile Joined June 2011
Switzerland1923 Posts
December 11 2013 17:30 GMT
#13
So nice!
It's good to be back
ptbl
Profile Joined January 2011
United States6074 Posts
December 11 2013 17:32 GMT
#14
Grats to Violet! In the article, it seems MLG and gamespot/ongamers refused to help Violet with the visa application process, while others like NASL CEO, DJWheat and others helped.
Don't mind me
ssxsilver
Profile Joined June 2007
United States4409 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-12-11 17:39:37
December 11 2013 17:35 GMT
#15
FUCK YEAH!! Now all we need is CMStorm to add them to their Team America roster =D.
-RusH
Profile Joined June 2012
United States240 Posts
December 11 2013 17:36 GMT
#16
Great news, I was beginning to wonder what had happened to violet.
Life..
Boucot
Profile Blog Joined October 2011
France15997 Posts
December 11 2013 17:37 GMT
#17
Very happy for him ! Hope he finds a team now !
Former SC2 writer for Millenium - twitter.com/Boucot
NovemberstOrm
Profile Blog Joined September 2011
Canada16217 Posts
December 11 2013 17:38 GMT
#18
Very awesome! :D
Moderatorlickypiddy
hootsushi
Profile Joined August 2010
Germany3468 Posts
December 11 2013 17:39 GMT
#19
That's great news, I always wondered what happened to Violet and why he wasn't participating in WCS. That's a sad story, really happy it turned out well for him.
nam nam
Profile Joined June 2010
Sweden4672 Posts
December 11 2013 17:40 GMT
#20
On December 12 2013 02:26 lystier wrote:
so, it's possible to get a athlete visa, get to the us, become a citizen and eventually avoid the korean military?
i guess a group of players would love this...

So would people saying NA ladder is dead then?
1 2 3 4 5 9 10 11 Next All
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