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Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 6:56 pm
by Peter Kirby
Guernsey have 5 / 6 visas, the last one is due by the 20th.

Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 7:06 am
by Nigel Short
Still no sign of the remaining 8 English visas...

Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 6:59 pm
by Peter Kirby
The last Guernsey visa is now due by the 28th.

Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 7:40 pm
by NickFaulks
If mine doesn't come through I shall stay on the original plan and show up at Baku Airport with the letter of invitation which we all have. I wish thay hadn't changed that at a late stage to a better plan.

Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 8:55 pm
by Alex Holowczak
My visa arrived on 21st August, along with this message:

"Please note that the visas demands were treated by the Organizers in the order of receiving the complete visas documents, if any visas for the members of your Federation are in the process of issuing."

So acquiring a visa seems to be a function of how quickly your application was accepted; if you were asked to have another go at photographs, you may have gone to the back of the queue.

Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 4:55 pm
by Nigel Short
We now have our visas, using the photos they rejected en masse for inexplicable reasons.

Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 6:11 pm
by John Moore
Nigel Short wrote:We now have our visas, using the photos they rejected en masse for inexplicable reasons.
That's good news - I was worried that Alex H might have had to make his international debut!

Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 6:14 pm
by Colin Patterson
Probably just stalling you all while they stocked up on ticker-tape! :)

Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 8:25 pm
by NickFaulks
Nigel Short wrote:We now have our visas, using the photos they rejected en masse for inexplicable reasons.
Bully for you, I haven't got mine. I must say that the rewards for being a Kirsan stooge are looking a little disappointing at the moment.

Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 9:33 pm
by Nigel Short
NickFaulks wrote:
Nigel Short wrote:We now have our visas, using the photos they rejected en masse for inexplicable reasons.
Bully for you, I haven't got mine. I must say that the rewards for being a Kirsan stooge are looking a little disappointing at the moment.
Yes, you really ought to give up on it. Incidentally, rumour has it that there will be no Bermuda Party this year. Is that true? Is Nigel planning a run for President or something?

Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 9:43 pm
by LawrenceCooper
Nigel Short wrote:
NickFaulks wrote:
Nigel Short wrote:We now have our visas, using the photos they rejected en masse for inexplicable reasons.
Bully for you, I haven't got mine. I must say that the rewards for being a Kirsan stooge are looking a little disappointing at the moment.
Yes, you really ought to give up on it. Incidentally, rumour has it that there will be no Bermuda Party this year. Is that true? Is Nigel planning a run for President or something?
It's on the schedule: http://www1.bakuchessolympiad.com/content/36 but maybe we'll have to make do with a Baku party instead :oops:

Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 3:16 pm
by NickFaulks
Nigel Short wrote:Incidentally, rumour has it that there will be no Bermuda Party this year.
Come on, we all know you can make up a better rumour than that.

http://www1.bakuchessolympiad.com/news/20/129

Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 3:24 pm
by LawrenceCooper
Some of the teams that receive help with funding and travel are still awaiting their flight tickets and visas :?

Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 3:44 pm
by NickFaulks
LawrenceCooper wrote:Some of the teams that receive help with funding and travel are still awaiting their flight tickets and visas :?
I don't think it has ever been the intention that the organisers would provide money upfront for tickets. That would introduce, shall we say, a moral hazard. The travel fund, which is a recent and welcome innovation, will reimburse teams on arrival.

As to visas, which could certainly have been handled better, the organisers are providing anyone whose visa is stuck at the Ministry with a Letter of Invitation which will get them a visa on arrival at Baku Airport. I am potentially in that position myself, and am not at all troubled.

Re: England Olympiad teams announcement

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 3:50 pm
by LawrenceCooper
NickFaulks wrote:
LawrenceCooper wrote:Some of the teams that receive help with funding and travel are still awaiting their flight tickets and visas :?
I don't think it has ever been the intention that the organisers would provide money upfront for tickets. That would introduce, shall we say, a moral hazard. The travel fund, which is a recent and welcome innovation, will reimburse teams on arrival.

As to visas, which could certainly have been handled better, the organisers are providing anyone whose visa is stuck at the Ministry with a Letter of Invitation which will get them a visa on arrival at Baku Airport. I am potentially in that position myself, and am not at all troubled.
Sadly at least one country is physically waiting to be sent tickets so I suspect a communication breakdown has occurred at some level.