Some Russian hockey players, resp. their lawyers on NHL teams are worried about their future in overseas profiles due to Russia’s escalating military conflict in Ukraine.
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Photo: SITA/AP, Paul Sancya
Artemy Panarin of the New York Rangers.
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Therefore, they contacted immigration lawyers to discuss the asylum or permanent residence process in North America. They fear that the US and Canadian governments may slow down or stop issuing new work permits and travel visas to Russian athletes.
“Russian players and their deputies are frightened. They fear that they may be forced to leave or that their visas will not be renewed.
The United States and Canada impose new sanctions on Russia almost every day, and it is impossible to say what this will mean for issuing new visas to Russian foreigners in the NHL, “said Joe Kirkwood, an immigration legal expert with experience in issuing player visas in more than 25 NHL and AHL teams.
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“Current US visas are unlikely to be revoked by the US government, but there are well-founded concerns about what will happen to new visas,” Kirkwood added.
Another immigration lawyer, Thomas Arkell, said he had been contacted by players and players’ agents who feared a growing conflict in Ukraine.
“Many European players are concerned about the current threat to their family or country. “Recently, I’ve had a lot of questions from agents and individuals about permanent residence in the United States,” Arknell commented.
The Ukrainian embassy in Ottawa has already asked the Canadian government to stop issuing new work permits and travel visas for Russian athletes on March 2.
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Andrii Bukvyč, the Ukrainian chargé d’affaires in Ottawa, has information from officials in Canada that they are considering a positive response to this request.
“From a sporting and cultural point of view, they take very serious possible measures taken in response to the Russian war and war crimes in Ukraine,” Bukvych wrote in a text message to TSN.
A US State Department spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.
On the other hand, Aidan Strickland, the secretary of the Office of the Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in Canada, said by e-mail that Canada had a fair and compassionate system of refugee protection.
“Currently, there are no special immigration measures for Russian citizens. Russian nationals can continue to apply through our regular immigration routes until new requirements are approved.
If Russian nationals in Canada decide to apply for asylum, the claims of these individuals will be fully assessed by an independent administrative court of the Immigration and Refugee Office, “Strickland explained.
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Kirkwood said there was a precedent in the United States for an immediate and dramatic change in visas for foreign nationals.
However, there is a possibility that Russian hockey players with multi-year contracts could meet the requirements for permanent residence and would not have to apply for asylum if they had the support of their teams.
“This could be the case if players abide by their contracts, did not have a criminal record or otherwise violated immigration rules,” Kirkwood continued for TSN.
However, if such a hockey player is exchanged from an American to a Canadian team, his application for residence would suddenly be invalid.
“Exchange to the Canadian team could slow down the whole process. The official application for a stay in the USA would cease to apply, “Kirkwood added.
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In Canada, NHL players who are foreign nationals are allowed to play for seven Canadian NHL teams by obtaining a work permit specific to professional athletes and coaches.
This was stated by Daniel Levy, a lawyer for Cohen Immigration Law in Montreal, and his clients include several athletes.
“Prior to the pandemic, athletes usually received a work permit to stay in Canada for two or three years. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian government has generally granted permits for one year.
If the Canadian government decides to stop issuing new visas, Russian athletes would have several options to try to stay in Canada – including applying for refugee status and residence, “Levy said.
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Maria Popova, a professor in the Department of Political Science at McGill University in Montreal, has provided expert advice on more than 20 cases of Russian immigration in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. She said Russian NHL players seeking refugee status in Canada would have a strong argument.
“If they showed that they did not agree with what the Russian government was doing in Ukraine, and that they would express this disagreement if they returned to Russia, then it would be clear that they would be in danger.
Athletes in Russia are important personalities. In the local geopolitical context, sport is much more important than in the West.
A new Iron Curtain is opening and Russia finds itself in a world of many repressions. We’re going to a new Cold War, “Popov thinks.
“Applying for refugee status would allow NHL players and their families to stay in Canada and work until the date of the hearing, which usually takes years,” she added.
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