Invitation Letters and Visa Applications

Invitation Letters and Visa Applications ✍🏼

Little Femi (18 yrs old) from Lagos, has finally been granted that opportunity he has been praying for…

…. an invitation to trial for a club in Europe ✈️👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

What questions should he be asking ⁉️

Does he have a valid passport? Does he require a visa? Who is paying for the trip? What is the duration of the trial? What is the offer from the club should he pass the trial? Will he qualify for a work permit in that country? Etc.

Let’s talk about visas 🎫

A visa, I would say, is the second most important requirement, after having a valid passport. Femi currently holds a Nigerian passport, and must apply for a visa.

A visa gives permission to the holder to travel to the country or countries allowed by the issuer, and “apply” for admission. When you reach the port of entry, an immigration officer will carefully scrutinise and assess whether you are fit to enter the country. If you are asked questions and you give the “wrong” answers, you could be refused entry and removed back to your country. For instance, if you arrive into a country with a tourist visa, but tell the immigration officials that you have come to work, or to do business, na “yawa” be that (“big problems”) 😆🤦🏽‍♀️.

Under s.214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), US visa applicants are presumed to be “intending immigrants” (i.e. japa candidates) and it’s down to the applicant to credibly demonstrate that they will leave after their visit. I would say this is the presumption of a lot of (developed) countries.

Ok, so how will Femi obtain a visa ⁉️

He will need to apply at the nearest embassy.

Applying for visas can be complex, especially if you are from a small African country with limited embassies. The nearest embassy could be in another country, and you may need a visa to enter that country 😅🙆🏽‍♀️.

Visa requirements and the application process differ from country to country, with some countries like the UK and the USA being two of the strictest.

As a minimum for the visa application, Femi would need to submit:

➡️ A passport/passport photos
➡️ Completed visa application form
➡️ Visa fee
➡️ Proof of financial means to support the trip
➡️ An Introduction letter from the Nigerian Football Federation which proves he’s a bonafide player
➡️ An Invitation Letter from the football club (not an agent or agency). This should ideally be in a language Femi understands, translated into the language of the country he is visiting, and addressed to the Entry Clearance Officer. It should demonstrate, inter alia:

⚫️ Reason for the trip
⚫️ Date and duration of the trip
⚫️ Who is funding the trip
⚫️ Contact person at the club for verification

PS – I’m not an expert on visa applications so always make sure you obtain advice before applying for a visa, but hopefully this gives you a starting point 🙏🏾😉

Ref: US Embassy website

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