By Allan Simpson
Contributing: Bob Elliott Toronto Sun
Visa problems are an annual rite of spring training, often delaying the arrival
of foreign players in camp for several days.But visa problem took a whole new
meaning for baseball when the Department of Labor ruled that no new visas would
be issued to minor league players of foreign origin until Oct. 1.
签证问题是每年春训必定会发生的仪式，常常会使外国选手抵达春训营的时间延迟个几天
。但是当劳工部下令，一直到十月之前，停止发给外国籍的小联盟球员签证时，签证问题
对棒球造成了新的变数。
That decision could have significant consequences, as it means no foreigners
will be allowed to play in affiliated leagues or independent leagues in the
U.S. this season unless they have already positioned for and secured an H-2B
work visa. Those visas are most commonly issued to temporary or seasonal non-
agricultural employees such as migrant landscaping, forestry and construction
workers.
这个决策造成了严重的後果，意味着没有一个外国籍球员能够在本季下场打球，无论是职
业联盟的子联盟或是独立联盟都一样。除非他们在之前就已经申请或是持有H-2B工作签证
，这类通常是专门发给季节性的非农业劳工和建筑工人。
The department of Labor is authorized to issue 66,000 such visas each year,
and that quota was reached in early March.Major League Baseball got advance
warning that the ruling was pending and was able to notify clubs to file visa
petitions on behalf of their foreign minor league players."We're thankful we
have good relationship with the Department of Labor," said Roy Krasik, senior
director of major league operations for the commissioner's office. "We got
word about a week before the ruling came down."
劳工部每年被授权发出66,000份H2-B签证，而这个数字已经在三月初达到饱和。大联盟
总部得到事先的通知，得以告知各球队顾及队上外国球员的权益提早提出申请。「我们
很庆幸与劳工部一直都有良好的互动。」大联盟总裁办公室的运作执行长Roy Krasik说
，「在政策开始运作一个礼拜之前我们就得到消息。」
Normally Major League Baseball is allowed 1,400 visa slots for foreign players.
That number generally allows enough flexibility for clubs to bring foreign
players to the U.S. in sufficient numbers during the course of a season. But
not this season.The ruling will primarily affect players that would be assigned
to short-season clubs in June. But it will also affect the signing of Cuban
defectors and the selection of Canadians in the June draft."This decision is a
major concern throughout baseball for clubs active in the foreign market,"
said Dick Groch, who scouts Canada for the Brewers. "This is more than a b
aseball problem. Think of the serious effects this will have with major
corporations who do business in the U.S., the loss of jobs, the effect on
families , insurance and health benefits."
正常来说，美国大联盟给外籍球员的签证数量是1,400份。这个数字让各个球队有足够的
弹性让外国籍球员在球季中进入美国，但是这个球季不然。这项政策的变动主要影响到在
六月开打短期联盟的球员，同样会受到波及的还有古巴的叛逃球员和参与六月选秀的加拿
大籍球员。「这个决策对在海外球员市场有积极动作的球队是个麻烦，」替酿酒人队物色
加拿大籍球员的Dick Groch说。「这不只会影响到棒球界，想想看这对与美国进行各样贸
易的公司来说，会造成多大的影响。失业，家庭问题，还有紧接而来保险医疗等等的考量
。」
The ruling has little or no bearing on major leaguers. Those players are
governed by P-1 visas, which are issued to individuals deemed by U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services to be outstanding in their profession.
Until recently, the 66,000 available visas were more than enough to satisfy
demand. But a boom in suburban landscaping, particularly on the east coast,
increased the demand in recent years and 79,000 visas were issued in 2003.
The Department of Labor vowed that it would not exceed its quota again and
by March 9 the supply for this year had run out.
Major League Baseball plans to lobby alongside other sports to resolve issue.
这个改变对大联盟球员的影响其实不大，可以说几乎没有影响。这些球员持有P-1签证
，专门发给被美国移民局认为在从事行业中有杰出表现的个人。直到最近，66,000份的
签证额度都还可以满足需要。但是郊区建筑设计业的需求突然暴增，尤其是在东岸。使
得签证的数量明显感到不足，2003年劳工部发出了79,000份签证。今年劳工部宣称不会
再增加配额，实际上在3月9日名额就已经饱和。
大联盟官方决定与其他运动组织合作解决这个问题。
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※ 编辑: Schrijn 来自: 218.166.137.80 (06/13 23:25)
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