Just heard that Nika is out for today’s preseason game versus the Sparks in Canada today along with Ezi Magbegor due to them not traveling to Canada for undisclosed reasons… Really hoping she makes the cut because Seattle is tight with salary cap space and hoping this has nothing to do with it.
Nika Mühl not traveling with team for preseason Canada game later today.
- Thread starter Vincent22
- Start date
- Status
That’s relieving… Thank you!
Aluminny69
Old Timer
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 8,990
- Reaction Score
- 26,398
The harsh realities of the WNBA. Hope he is wrong, but...
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2020
- Messages
- 910
- Reaction Score
- 8,598
Post #68 in the Nika in Seattle thread explains the visa issue that prevented Nika from traveling to Canada. Post #4 above to really a bummer if that ends up being the case.
I guess her best chance is if they keep both Nika and Jade and cut a big reserve ( with a comparable salary to Nika’s). Her inability to have tge opportunity to show what she brings in tonights exhibition game makes things even tougher. Fingers crossed!
I guess her best chance is if they keep both Nika and Jade and cut a big reserve ( with a comparable salary to Nika’s). Her inability to have tge opportunity to show what she brings in tonights exhibition game makes things even tougher. Fingers crossed!
HuskyNan
You Know Who
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 29,934
- Reaction Score
- 276,540
Oh, that dope again
Nika is still on her student visa. The first game is in Canada so Nika can leave the country but not re-enter it.
.-.
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2013
- Messages
- 2,332
- Reaction Score
- 13,649
Oh, that dope again
Nika is still on her student visa. The first game is in Canada so Nika can leave the country but not re-enter it.
He may or may not be a dope but his analysis is pretty solid. How it will turn out, who knows.
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2023
- Messages
- 55
- Reaction Score
- 338
So far all other commentary says she makes the team. Not attending the Canada game does make me nervous though. I just read an article saying that the coach likes her athleticism and basketball IQ, but Melbourne already knows the system. I've heard a lot of commentary saying they keep both. One things for sure, if Seattle doesn't keep her I think it'll be a big deal. Since the Final Four she's gained close to half a million followers. One YouTube video mentioned that even if she was terrible they'd keep her for the fans.
Regardless, Nika despite the stress/fatigue she admitted to, she seems to be enjoying herself. She could not stop smiling during that presser.
Croation sensation can't leave the nation.Oh, that dope again
Nika is still on her student visa. The first game is in Canada so Nika can leave the country but not re-enter it.
We deal with musician's visas frequently, and unfortunately the U.S. is a tough nut to crack. The visas take forever to come through, and are expensive. Best bet is whoever the U.S. Congressperson for Seattle's district starts pulling strings.
.-.
She was still a student on a student visa. I know, it makes no sense, but that's the way visa's crumble.
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2018
- Messages
- 62
- Reaction Score
- 528
Even for vacation? Imagine the frustration!
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2020
- Messages
- 910
- Reaction Score
- 8,598
I wonder if the game was last night if it would have been a non issue as she actually graduates today/tonight? Guessing though that once she got and signed a training camp contract that ended her student visa and put her on a provisional work visa. Total guess on my part.
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2011
- Messages
- 683
- Reaction Score
- 4,345
Good Guess! Same reason why many foreign players on student visas can't accept certain NIL money. This SI article explains this.
NIL Confusion Remains for International Athletes
New findings by Immigration Attorneys confirm the frustrations of those trying to get NIL money to international student-athletes.
MilfordHusky
Voice of Reason
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 38,343
- Reaction Score
- 135,159
Not sure if I fully understand this, but it seems that Nika can't travel to Canada with the Storm--but it frees her up to go to her graduation. Looks like a silver lining to me.
.-.
OK, I am completely confused. Didn't UConn play a game in Canada for Edwards home coming? Did Nika sit that one out? Or is it that Nika is now "working" but still here on a student visa? If so, isn't she violating her visa already whether she goes to Canada or not? Maybe Nika is an illegal immigrant?Oh, that dope again
Nika is still on her student visa. The first game is in Canada so Nika can leave the country but not re-enter it.
Bald Husky
four score
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2021
- Messages
- 2,998
- Reaction Score
- 17,319
LOL, she played the other game while on a student visa. Now, she must apply for a work visa as all non-American players do. Since there are no Canadian teams in the WNBA, she shouldn't have a problem going forward.
Interesting situation. There will be a Canadian team soon in the WNBA. I believe that is in the plan? Looks like this may be a potential issue down the line. Seems like there may be a need to tweak these rules or speed up the process for the newly drafted foreign college players or teams may become unwilling to draft these international players from college.
I wonder if she flew to Connecticut for her graduation ceremonies?
WiseWillie
OldWillie
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2023
- Messages
- 949
- Reaction Score
- 4,764
You are right on. Don't pay any attention to that guy. He has been making outlandish analyses with little if any information in order to basically rile up fans and generate hits for his blog or whatever it is he has. I don't open the thing he puts on YouTube and just ignore anything he has to say. The Boneyard has better, more relevant info especially from HuskyNan and many very knowledgeable W/M BB BY'ers.
.-.
WiseWillie
OldWillie
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2023
- Messages
- 949
- Reaction Score
- 4,764
This is only a temporary problem. The NHL and pro hockey leagues have been using foreign players in U.S. and Canada for years. Same with other men's pro sports. It won't be a problem as soon as the WNBA expands to Canada which seems to be on the front burner in the W's exec office and well overdue. Toronto for one seems to be an obvious place for the W and expect we will hear something along those lines sometime in the not too distant future.
From some universities website:
“How long can international students stay in the USA after graduation?
Students holding F visas must leave the US within 60 days of the program end date specified on Form I-20, according to US immigration law. On the other hand, students with J and M visas must depart the United States within 30 days of the program end date specified on their Form I-20. However, if you want to stay longer in the United States, you can apply for a visa extension on the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.
After graduation, F-1 visa holders are eligible for up to 12 months of optional practical training (OPT). That means you’ll be able to work for a year after finishing your studies. It is a temporary employment permit that allows students to obtain helpful experience in the relevant field of study.
On the other hand, after finishing their course of study, students with an M1 visa may only work in temporary positions for practical training. The job must be recommended for practical training and must be relevant to the course of study. It also can’t be training that they can get in their home nation.
Academic Training (AT) in a field similar to or related to their curriculum is available to J-1 students for up to 18 months following graduation. In addition, J-1 students with a Ph.D. can apply for an extra 18 months of AT in their field of study.”
“How long can international students stay in the USA after graduation?
Students holding F visas must leave the US within 60 days of the program end date specified on Form I-20, according to US immigration law. On the other hand, students with J and M visas must depart the United States within 30 days of the program end date specified on their Form I-20. However, if you want to stay longer in the United States, you can apply for a visa extension on the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.
After graduation, F-1 visa holders are eligible for up to 12 months of optional practical training (OPT). That means you’ll be able to work for a year after finishing your studies. It is a temporary employment permit that allows students to obtain helpful experience in the relevant field of study.
On the other hand, after finishing their course of study, students with an M1 visa may only work in temporary positions for practical training. The job must be recommended for practical training and must be relevant to the course of study. It also can’t be training that they can get in their home nation.
Academic Training (AT) in a field similar to or related to their curriculum is available to J-1 students for up to 18 months following graduation. In addition, J-1 students with a Ph.D. can apply for an extra 18 months of AT in their field of study.”
Connecticut is not leaving the United States. Nika is in the country now, the problem would be leaving and then trying to get back.
This is exactly correct, she is in temporary limbo, likely already made application to change her visa and/or extended it. However, the that takes weeks to get through the process.
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2013
- Messages
- 2,014
- Reaction Score
- 5,886
Ezi also had visa issues and last year Dorka was able to play in the Canada game that was in the same time frame. Seems like Seattle screwed up.
I would hope a professional sports team would have competent staff to address the need for a proper work visa.
.-.
- Status