Dom Dwyer to Olympiacos?

He's got a US kid on the way. He's a Yank-to-be.

 

Would this alter his citizenship status though if he is not residing in the US? I would guess not because he is becoming a citizen through marriage, but anyone know fo sho?

 

Fat Sam better not get any funny ideas now that he's on the Euro map.

 

Like anything regarding citizenship, it's complicated.

Here's my previous description of how to get citizenship:

Once an individual has a Green Card, there are two clocks that start ticking and that must be met by the time the player applies for citizenship.

1) Residency. This doesn't mean what you think it means. In this context, residency means that you have established the US as your home and plan to return to the US even if you spend time with a team overseas. You do this by keeping a home here, by filing US tax returns, by keeping a US driver's license and/or by keeping US bank accounts. It's a loose standard, but the GC holder has to prove he plans on staying in the US. For most individuals, you need 5 years of residency (3 if you marry a US citizen).

2) Physical presence. Actual time physically in the US. You need 2.5 years of physical presence within your 5 years of residency (1.5 years if you marry a US citizen). This can be broken up and every day in the US, even if on vacation or playing in the US for a Canadian MLS team, counts.

Here's a bit more about extended absences:

Extended absences outside of the U.S. may disrupt an applicant’s continuous residence.

• Absences of more than six months but less than one year may disrupt an applicant’s continuous residence unless the applicant can prove otherwise, (https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume12-PartD-Chapter3.html)
• Absences in excess of one year or more may disrupt an applicant’s continuous residence (https://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView...1261/0-0-0-30960/0-0-0-31016.html#0-0-0-19579)

Can it be done? Yes, though you have to be able to show the immigration folks that the absence was temporary. Ideally, that means leaving Sydney behind in the US and maintaining a home here. It also means returning to the US before 6 months is up (use the Xmas break, if available).

He's scheduled to be eligible for naturalization in mid-February 2017.

There's also this:

In addition, applicants are required to show they have resided for at least three months immediately preceding the filing of Form N-400 in the USCIS district or state where the applicant claims to have residency (See 8 CFR §316.2(a)(5) & §319.1(a)(5)).

Generally, this is interpreted as the same type of residency as mentioned above, rather than physical presence.

But, since there are lots of elements subject to interpretation and administrative guidance that isn't included in the law, there is always room for disagreement.

 

On this specific Dwyer deal, Peter Vermes told me, "Based on what the structure and situation is, we're not considering it at the moment."

— Sam McDowell (@SamMcDowell11) July 25, 2016

 

Thanks @BostonRed .

 

Looks like we've got another Steve Birnbaum-type situation brewing with MLS placing more value on a player than the open market while continuing to vastly underpay.

 

It's interesting, because clearly Dwyer is more valuable for his goals at SKC than $3M, but how many goals would he score in a higher level league? Is there a multiplier that you take into account when putting a value on MLS talent, because it always seems to be drastically lower than what other leagues seem to get for their players outside of Tim Howard and Jozy Altidore. It definitely seems that MLS is like shopping at Basement Macy's versus ground level.

 

What in your opinion @BostonRed would be a reasonable price tag for Dwyer? $6-7M Again, to me that seems low for a guy with an EU passport at his age and scoring talent.

 

I don't pay enough attention to selling value to be much use in that discussion, but it does seem to be that clubs lowball MLS clubs for players. Maybe it's because they know it's much tougher to negotiate with both the club AND the league to get a player or because the players are low-paid enough that the foreign clubs know they can pry them loose by making them disgruntled once the player sees his club blocking a move.

The biggest thing in this case is does Dom want to move and would Olympiakos be enough to make him leave his wife and soon-to-be-born son? It would seem there are other future options that he might want to wait for (such as once his child is born and settled and perhaps where his wife can play at a high level and when he has his US citizenship in hand).

Note the baby is due in September.

 

Agreed, there is enough on his plate right now that moving abroad would seem to be unlikely for him to be anxious to do.

 

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/sporting-kc/article91690137.html

“There’s a lot of different moving parts in these deals — both for the club and the player,” Vermes said. “Everybody has to be comfortable with that. I would say right now, we’re not (comfortable) — neither of us are.

 

There's also the fact that Greek football has been a mess for several years now. Many of the clubs are struggling financially and players often don't get paid on time, they have major problems with fan violence, and last year there was a huge scandal that revealed how organized crime has completely infested the league.

Then outside of the soccer sphere there are the general problems the country has been hit with as a result of the financial crisis, which they still haven't even come close to emerging from; people losing their pensions, crippling strikes, civil unrest. Not to mention the migrant crisis of which they are right smack in the crossroads.

Hardly a tranquil destination, especially for an expecting father.

 

Champions League football > MLS

 

They get paid on time but in Greek bonds. You need an Angela Merkel signature before you can cash it in.

In any case, Dwyer's is on $618K/Y guaranteed, so he can be a bit choosy.

On the other hand, he is turning 26 in five days, so it's also a bit of the "now or never" scenario.

 

MLS > Playing only 2 games in the Champions League qualifying rounds then getting dumped into Europa League playoffs, not even the group stages

There is the Champions League (what we all watch on TV in September) and then there is the Champions League (the stuff that plays in July and August). If you are not playing in September, CL or Europa, then there really is no benefit to playing in these tournaments.

 

BostonRed, is the David Regis fast track rule still in place?

 

CL is overrated.

It's usually only 6 games against varying levels of quality.

 

Yes.

Here are the provisions:

https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume12-PartG-Chapter4.html

The spouse of a U.S. citizen who is “regularly stationed abroad” in qualifying employment may be eligible for naturalization on the basis of their marriage. Spouses otherwise eligible under this provision are exempt from the continuous residence and physical presence requirements for naturalization.

Qualifying employment abroad means to be under employment contract or orders and to assume the duties of employment in any of following entities or positions:

•Government of the United States (including the U.S. armed forces);
•American institution of research recognized as such by the Attorney General;
•American firm or corporation engaged in whole or in part in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the United States, or a subsidiary thereof;
•Public international organization in which the United States participates by treaty or statute;
•Authorized to perform the ministerial or priestly functions of a religious denomination having a bona fide organization within the United States; or
•Engaged solely as a missionary by a religious denomination or by an interdenominational mission organization having a bona fide organization within the United States.

So, Sydney would have to get a job with one of these organizations... Would be easier to work with what he has to deal with now.

 

Any sporting goods manufacturer. Which actually would probably be right up her alley.

 

lol @ the people calling UCL/UEL competition overrated

 

I just don't see the Dwyer's being tempted since Greece has only one women's team of note. A USWNT salary is pretty good and has great benefits.

 

Are you an immigration lawyer? Like, I think I (or someone else) asked you that a while ago, but I've forgotten the answer. Not to derail the thread too much...

 

Nope, IANAL (of any variety). I work as a recruiter in a big high tech company, so I learned US immigration out of necessity. I've just done my homework on various topics around US citizenship & FIFA eligibility as it became apparent that there was a need for some educated conversation.