Execration Will Miss the Boston Major Due to Visa Issues; Last Chance Options Being Explored
Update #1: An earlier version of this story contained the title, “Execration Will Miss the Boston Major Due to Visa Issues.” It has since been changed to “Execration Will Miss the Boston Major Due to Visa Issues; Last Chance Options Being Explored”
Update#2: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that Execration needed to complete a United States Citzenship and Immigration (USCIS) services form. It has since been corrected to say that the team’s visas have been delayed due to delay at the USCIS. The delay would mean that team will receive their visas after the group stage.
Sources close to Valve and the team have confirmed that Execration will not be attending the Boston Major, citing Visa issues.
Separate sources from inside Valve and close to the team have told eSports by INQUIRER.net that the team could not secure Visas in time.
“It would have taken too much time to submit more requirements and proofs to secure their documents,” one source told eSports by INQUIRER.net. “There just wasn’t enough time.”
In the end, the United States Embassy could not grant them the P1 Athletic Visas in time for the Major. The team submitted their requirements for the P1 visa a month ahead of the Major, but they have been held up at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) level.
The delay would mean that the team will receive their visas after the group stage has concluded.
Execration’s Kimuel “Kim0” Rodis confirmed the announcement on his page, saying that he, Abed and Gabbi have failed to secured their visas for the event.
In their place, Chinese team LGD will be competing at Boston for the Fall Major.
Team manager Arvin Risos confirmed the news with eSports by INQUIRER.net, saying that the team will now prepare for ESL ONE Genting 2017 in January.
There is, however, an outside chance that their final application for the P1 visa might go through before Dec. 2, 2016.
The Execration manager reiterated that both Valve and the team are working on a last chance solution. Should their processing arrive in time, the team may still be able to compete in the Major.
Execration is not the only team to run into visa problems for the Boston Major. Both LGD.FY and IG.Vitality had players whose visas were denied, prompting them to look for last minute replacements.
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