Immigration Question

[fencergal33]

Hopefully, this can be answered fairly quickly and easily.

If you are not a citizen of the USA, but you DO have a green card (making you a permanent resident), are you eligible to fence in Summer Nationals?

Thanks!

[Andrea]

As a holder of a green card, and who has actually fenced a a summer nationals, I can say YES you can.

Andrea

[fencergal33]

Thanks very much!

[Capt. Slo-mo]

However; you are required to marry an American before you are allowed to step onto the medals stand and claim your top 8 finish--hence the term "strip wedding."

[MyrddinsPrecint]

oiuyt appears to be in the process of being taken, however.

[oiuyt]

You also have to be eligible to represent the US, which means that you cannot have represented another country in international competition for the preceeding three seasons (there are a couple of exceptions, such as marriage into your new nationality that can get this waived).

-B

[KD5MDK]

However; you are required to marry an American before you are allowed to step onto the medals stand and claim your top 8 finish--hence the term "strip wedding."

That could be so much more exciting than it actually is...

[fencergal33]

You also have to be eligible to represent the US, which means that you cannot have represented another country in international competition for the preceeding three seasons (there are a couple of exceptions, such as marriage into your new nationality that can get this waived).

-B

Ok...this should not be a problem. Here's the situation:

woman called fencing school wanting to get her kids into it. She comes over for the free lesson and starts talking to coach about how she used to fence back in Russia. Turns out she was one of those kids that they used to put into special sports training schools when the country was still communist. She moved here 10 or 12 years ago, and hasn't fenced since. So....she's been out of it for quite a while, and didn't realize that fencing existed in NC. She has a green card, but is not a citizen. I just wanted to make sure she could compete here in something besides a NAC before I told her to sign up for everything.

[Epeecurean]

You also have to be eligible to represent the US, which means that you cannot have represented another country in international competition for the preceeding three seasons (there are a couple of exceptions, such as marriage into your new nationality that can get this waived).

-B

Why do they have this rule? Seems to me if you have US citizenship you should be allowed to fence in the US nationals regardless of international representation.

[keropie]

To prevent someone with dual citizenship from competing in more than one country, and more so to prevent countries from 'hiring away' elite athletes (i.e., hey look, you're a really good shot putter... why don't you move to the US, we'll give you citizenship, and there's a gold in our pocket!) Since NACs, etc. are part of olympic qualifying path, the USOC and IOC have some relevent rules and such, I'm sure.

[glowstix]

Since NACs, etc. are part of olympic qualifying path, the USOC and IOC have some relevent rules and such, I'm sure.

not NACs. anyone can fence those. only divisionals, sectionals and nationals.

[Epeecurean]

To prevent someone with dual citizenship from competing in more than one country, and more so to prevent countries from 'hiring away' elite athletes (i.e., hey look, you're a really good shot putter... why don't you move to the US, we'll give you citizenship, and there's a gold in our pocket!) Since NACs, etc. are part of olympic qualifying path, the USOC and IOC have some relevent rules and such, I'm sure.

You're mixing up two different regulations. One is the nationality / country of representation rules of the IOC/FIE which prevent the poaching of elite athletes for use in World Cups, World Champs, Olympics etc. I have no problem with that. The rule I'm questioning is the USFA rule for nationals (and apparently divisionals/sectionals). If I have USFA membership and am a US citizen, I feel I should be allowed to fence in the US nationals even if I can't represent the US in international competition because of the IOC/FIE rule. I don't know of any other country's fencing federation which prevents their own citizens from fencing in their national championships.

[oiuyt]

and apparently divisionals/sectionals

The rule is in force for national championships and anything on the qualifying path to national championships, hence including divisional and sectional qualifiers. Interestingly, I suppose all NACs (for vet fencers), Y14 NACs, and RYCs/SYCs (for Y14) are national qualifying paths and therefore should similarly have this restriction (which I don't believe is actually enforced in any of those cases).

-B

[veeco]

Actually don't you need to have NAC points to be elected to fence in DivI Senior nationals? By your own admission then, all foreign fencers should be barred to fence in NACs if that was the case, since they are on the qualifying path for DivI senior nationals...

Really, I can't imagine that someone with a dual citizenship can't fence in US nationals, even if they are fencing for another country in the world champs... That's completely stupid. That guy isn't even allowed a shot at being a national champion of a country of which he is a citizen?

And to think that we almost had a French national champion from Belgium (not dual-citizen) this year at the French elite national championships!!!

[oiuyt]

Actually don't you need to have NAC points to be elected to fence in DivI Senior nationals? By your own admission then, all foreign fencers should be barred to fence in NACs if that was the case, since they are on the qualifying path for DivI senior nationals...

Good call, missed that one. Add that to my list of events that are technically national championships qualifiers and, by a strict interpretation of the rule, therefore be limited in who is eligible.

-B