10 Factors Why A Footballer's Visa Application May be Relected [Even With A Genuine Invitation Letter from A Club Abroad]

Getting an invitation letter for a football trial from a club abroad doesn't come easy. So rejection is the last thing you want to hear after investing time and your hard-earned money in a visa application process. But it happens often than not that footballers are rejected visa even after presenting a genuine invitation letter from a club abroad

Why is it so...
Many player's agents/ intermediaries get frustrated as it is peculiar with Nigerians and embassies in Nigeria. Here, a travel agent, Muyiwa Kehinde,  from Africa’s largest online travel company, Wakanow, shares 10 major factors that could dim your chances of getting a visa.

It doesn’t sound so nice, isn’t it? But there’s a way out. So, ensure you read till the very end of this post.

Be below are the 10 major factors your visa application may be rejected:

#1 When you have a Virgin International Passport
If there is no visa as well as arrival and departure stamps on your passport, that shows you haven't traveled out of your country before. It isn't a problem really, but it is easier to reject a person with a virgin passport if his documents are incomplete or misrepresent facts to the embassy official.

Footballers must be able to identify themselves and prove beyond doubt that they are who they say they are. You better keep things simple and honest rather than concocting a personality you cannot defend.

#2. When you have a history of visa refusals
If your visa has been refused more than once in the past, avoid the temptation to apply for a new one until you have spoken to a visa expert. Otherwise, you stand the risk of damaging your travel profile forever. You don’t want this to happen. Most embassies are always reluctant to grant a travel visa to an applicant with such history. It gives you away as someone who is desperate to leave the country without any plan to return.

#3. When you misrepresent the facts
“Honesty”, they say, “is the best policy.” Nowhere is this saying truer than when applying for your visa. It can be tempting to present fake documents when you know something does not add up. At all cost, don’t fall for this. Fake documents and falsification of personal information or travel history only increase your chances of being denied a visa.

Proven dishonesty during a visa application could earn you a lifetime travel ban. If you are unfortunate to get a US ban, this could last forever while the UK ban lasts as long as 10 years, depending on the severity of the case.


#4. When you do not have NFF Recommendations or Introduction letter
You should be a registered player, amateur or professional, with Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). So it is expected that the country's association introduce or recommend you to the embassy. You may not be able to convince the embassy official that you're really a footballer without NFF introduction or recommendation letter... Your application may be rejected if you don't have this letter.


#5. When the club didn't Send a copy of the Trial invitation letter to the Embassy
It is not every embassy official that's lenient or down to earth to cross check or confirm your invitation letter from the club that issued it abroad. They may outrightly reject your application if they can't through to the club via phone or mail. This is why you must insist that the club send a duplicate copy of your invitation letter to the embassy.

Let the invitation letter state the responsibility of the club to accommodate, feed and take custody of you within the duration of the trials.

#6. When your lifestyle is inconsistent with a visa category
This may sound ridiculous, but truth is some visa applicants burn their own fingers by choosing a category that does not tally with their lifestyle or what they are travelling for.. You narrow your chances when you opt for a holiday or a tourist Visit that costs you an arm and a leg when you are just a footballer.. It’s even worse when such a person has no travel history to back up their new taste for such luxury. For football trials you should go for short stay, sports training and event or business category.

#7. when you are an Amateur player with No verifiable track record
It is more difficult to give visa to an amateur player than a professional. The reason being thst an Amateur player doesn't have a recognisable contract with any club, so to say. That means an amateur player has no tie to a home club and therefore no evidence to prove that he will return if the trials with the club abroad fall through.

#8. When you have a lean bank account
Your bank statement is one of the most important factors that can decide the fate of your visa. Every embassy wants to be certain that you have enough in your account to sponsor the trip. So, your application could be denied if the visa officer is not satisfied with your statement of account.
Now, some applicants try to beat the system by getting relatives or friends to top up their account with huge sums. This is a grave mistake, especially when the “sudden cash deposit” seems unreasonable.

#9. When you lack sufficient visa information
Everywhere, you find people who claim to know a thing or two about visa processing. This often results in misinformation. For instance, the fact that a person knows UK visa laws doesn’t mean such persons have specific solutions to your visa issues. You need to talk to a visa expert, not some random adviser.

#10. When you have no ties at home
Many people hide on the guise of a vacation to run away from their home country. The visa officers wants to be sure you will return home after the trip, not disappear into thin air, like these people. So, a few ties like a good job, family and properties can help to neutralize such fears.

The interesting thing is that most of these visa issues can be better managed by experienced professionals. So, why would you want to complicate the mess instead of speaking to a visa expert? We at GreenHunters Sports International usually engage a visa expert to help with our players' visa application; so we encourage you to do the same.