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.
簽證問題是每年春訓必定會發生的儀式，常常會使外國選手抵達春訓營的時間延遲個幾天
。但是當勞工部下令，一直到十月之前，停止發給外國籍的小聯盟球員簽證時，簽證問題
對棒球造成了新的變數。
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.
這個決策造成了嚴重的後果，意味著沒有一個外國籍球員能夠在本季下場打球，無論是職
業聯盟的子聯盟或是獨立聯盟都一樣。除非他們在之前就已經申請或是持有H-2B工作簽證
，這類通常是專門發給季節性的非農業勞工和建築工人。
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."
勞工部每年被授權發出66,000份H2-B簽證，而這個數字已經在三月初達到飽和。大聯盟
總部得到事先的通知，得以告知各球隊顧及隊上外國球員的權益提早提出申請。「我們
很慶幸與勞工部一直都有良好的互動。」大聯盟總裁辦公室的運作執行長Roy Krasik說
，「在政策開始運作一個禮拜之前我們就得到消息。」
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."
正常來說，美國大聯盟給外籍球員的簽證數量是1,400份。這個數字讓各個球隊有足夠的
彈性讓外國籍球員在球季中進入美國，但是這個球季不然。這項政策的變動主要影響到在
六月開打短期聯盟的球員，同樣會受到波及的還有古巴的叛逃球員和參與六月選秀的加拿
大籍球員。「這個決策對在海外球員市場有積極動作的球隊是個麻煩，」替釀酒人隊物色
加拿大籍球員的Dick Groch說。「這不只會影響到棒球界，想想看這對與美國進行各樣貿
易的公司來說，會造成多大的影響。失業，家庭問題，還有緊接而來保險醫療等等的考量
。」
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.
這個改變對大聯盟球員的影響其實不大，可以說幾乎沒有影響。這些球員持有P-1簽證
，專門發給被美國移民局認為在從事行業中有傑出表現的個人。直到最近，66,000份的
簽證額度都還可以滿足需要。但是郊區建築設計業的需求突然暴增，尤其是在東岸。使
得簽證的數量明顯感到不足，2003年勞工部發出了79,000份簽證。今年勞工部宣稱不會
再增加配額，實際上在3月9日名額就已經飽和。
大聯盟官方決定與其他運動組織合作解決這個問題。
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※ 編輯: Schrijn 來自: 218.166.137.80 (06/13 23:25)
※ 編輯: Schrijn 來自: 218.166.137.80 (06/13 23:58)