I remember reading about a month ago, I think it was in a FDA article, that Mansally and Nyassi were still trying to acquire work permits. I didn't even pick up on it at the time, but how were they allowed to play in the US Open cup match if they don't have work permits? Did they play the game for free? haha I'm thoroughly confused about that entire situation.
I believe they were granted a conditional or temporary visa till the end of the season, though I could be wrong.
It could also be a visa issue rather than work permit and the wrong terms just got used. I know it seems that MLB teams often run into "visa delays" bringing back established stars who return home to places like Venezuela or the Dominican Republic during the offseason.
I thought I read that getting into the United States wasnt their problem, the problem was getting out of Gambia.
e I think the visa and work permit are the same thing. When someone gets a visa it states the terms of the visa. Travel visas allow you to stay in the country for a specified amount of time in a specified range of dates. I would imagine work visas operate the same and need to be renewed every year.
And you are generally required to leave the country to renew it (I'd imagine that's to prevent people from going "underground" if they are denied). I had a friend from Argentina who left her car, apartment, etc. and went to Canada to renew and then was told "sorry" and couldn't re-enter!
The FC Dallas blog did a great job explaining how the visa process works in regards to MLS: http://worldcupway.blogspot.com/2008/02/visa-process.html
Nice job finding this. It has a lot of very good info. God help us if we ever play on the road against a Cuban team in the CCL in February.