I read that as an Israeli citizen, Roman can come to the UK whenever he wants and stay for 6 months at a time, provided he isn't 'working'. 

I think what we have here is a loop hole being well used. 

There was also an interesting tidbit. He doesn't have to declare where his money comes from or how it's made for 10 years now that he's an Israeli citizen. That's pretty huge.

Scenes when Roman is arrested on the back of a van in Dover lol

He’s dodgy isn’t he.

Hilarious that people actually thought Roman wasn't going to be able to come to the UK anymore. 

He is dodgy yet the PTB turned a blind eye when he first came here, then there is that Russian at Arsenal too.

On 29/05/2018 at 09:43, Zola said:

I read that as an Israeli citizen, Roman can come to the UK whenever he wants and stay for 6 months at a time, provided he isn't 'working'. 

I think what we have here is a loop hole being well used. 

No - That's not true. "Staying 6 months at a time, and provided he isnt working" doesn't tell the whole story. As I previously mentioned, UK immigration laws are complex, and there is no right for anyone to come to the UK (other than British citizens, EU citizens and those with Right of abode). 

Whilst an Israeli citizen may visit the UK for up to 180 days as a visitor without a visa, this is not a right and each person must satisfy Border Force  (the immigration officer) that they meet the relevant paragraph of the immigration rules under which they want to come.  One of the visitor sub paragraphs is about credibility of the visit and another about a person "defacto" living in the UK through frequent or successive visits. The very fact that Roman has applied to live in the UK very recently (and has seemingly had problems with his application), has houses in the UK, has a business in the UK and people on the payroll, means that it is very unlikely that an immigration official would deem his alleged "visit" credible and grant him leave to enter, should he try to enter the UK as a visitor.  

...Then we get on to the situation of successive visits.  Just say that he was granted entry to the UK as a visitor, and remained for 6 months. What then? He almost certainly would not be allowed to re-enter as a visitor any time soon after staying or 6 months.

If Roman is clean (exclusion not deemed to the public good), has complied with immigration rules and UK laws, the he will ultimately get the visa issue sorted. Because money talks and he can hire the best immigration lawyers to argue his case.... There will also be opportunity for Roman to request an  admin review with UKVI, or failing that raise a pre-action protocol and eventually Judicial Review with HMC&TS... but the solution will not be by coming to the UK as a visitor (or it wont be for any significant length of time).  Entry as an Entrepreneur, Investor or even a student are all more viable routes to obtain entry clearance....

....but if the home secretary (or UKVI on his behalf) have deemed that Romans exclusion from the UK is for the public's good, then it is very unlikely that any application in any route would succeed.

Will be interesting to see how it plays out, especially for those of us with a passing interest in Immigration!

50 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

No - That's not true. "Staying 6 months at a time, and provided he isnt working" doesn't tell the whole story. As I previously mentioned, UK immigration laws are complex, and there is no right for anyone to come to the UK (other than British citizens, EU citizens and those with Right of abode). 

Whilst an Israeli citizen may visit the UK for up to 180 days as a visitor without a visa, this is not a right and each person must satisfy Border Force  (the immigration officer) that they meet the relevant paragraph of the immigration rules under which they want to come.  One of the visitor sub paragraphs is about credibility of the visit and another about a person "defacto" living in the UK through frequent or successive visits. The very fact that Roman has applied to live in the UK very recently (and has seemingly had problems with his application), has houses in the UK, has a business in the UK and people on the payroll, means that it is very unlikely that an immigration official would deem his alleged "visit" credible and grant him leave to enter, should he try to enter the UK as a visitor.  

...Then we get on to the situation of successive visits.  Just say that he was granted entry to the UK as a visitor, and remained for 6 months. What then? He almost certainly would not be allowed to re-enter as a visitor any time soon after staying or 6 months.

If Roman is clean (exclusion not deemed to the public good), has complied with immigration rules and UK laws, the he will ultimately get the visa issue sorted. Because money talks and he can hire the best immigration lawyers to argue his case.... There will also be opportunity for Roman to request an  admin review with UKVI, or failing that raise a pre-action protocol and eventually Judicial Review with HMC&TS... but the solution will not be by coming to the UK as a visitor (or it wont be for any significant length of time).  Entry as an Entrepreneur, Investor or even a student are all more viable routes to obtain entry clearance....

....but if the home secretary (or UKVI on his behalf) have deemed that Romans exclusion from the UK is for the public's good, then it is very unlikely that any application in any route would succeed.

Will be interesting to see how it plays out, especially for those of us with a passing interest in Immigration!

I have not seen evidence anywhere that RA had applied to take up residency in the U.K. from everything I have read his visa application was an investor visa and the only reason it was declined, if that is indeed the case,  was down to his nationality 

Whilst  I have no doubt that he has visited the U.K. on many occasions I very much doubt he has or indeed will spend at most a month or two here at any one time. There is no evidence, other than a subjective view that he would breech any tourist visa requirements or restrictions  and let’s face it if he did he wouldn’t be hard to find and kick out.

There are special provisions and indeed accelerated entry if an Israel passport holder has entered and indeed left the U.K. on a regular basis( I think 4 times in a year ) to access that special concession costs, I think under £100.

RA is not a director or indeed an employee of CFC he is a shareholder.That in itself is a subtle yet crucial fact .OK he effectively owns CFC but in theory he holds no administrative position at and as for owning properties isn’t it  quite normal for individuals to have what would be in effect holiday homes?

 Whilst RA no doubt calls the shots  at Chelsea most of the PL owners are no different in terms of not being either UK or indeed EU citizens indeed some like Kroenke at Arsenal actually take money out of their clubs by way of salary, dividends, consultancy fees or indeed a simple salary.Most run their U.K. assets from afar.

Of course it could, as you suggest that he has been deemed not suitable to be allowed entry but as the only thing that will have been changed is the origin of his passport I can’t help but think that any decision to exclude would face challenge and in all probability such decision would be overturned.

Edited May 30, 20188 yr by terraloon

1 hour ago, terraloon said:

I have not seen evidence anywhere that RA had applied to take up residency in the U.K. from everything I have read his visa application was an investor visa and the only reason it was declined, if that is indeed the case,  was down to his nationality 

Whilst  I have no doubt that he has visited the U.K. on many occasions I very much doubt he has or indeed will spend at most a month or two here at any one time. There is no evidence, other than a subjective view that he would breech any tourist visa requirements or restrictions  and let’s face it if he did he wouldn’t be hard to find and kick out.

There are special provisions and indeed accelerated entry if an Israel passport holder has entered and indeed left the U.K. on a regular basis( I think 4 times in a year ) to access that special concession costs, I think under £100.

RA is not a director or indeed an employee of CFC he is a shareholder.That in itself is a subtle yet crucial fact .OK he effectively owns CFC but in theory he holds no administrative position at and as for owning properties isn’t it  quite normal for individuals to have what would be in effect holiday homes?

 Whilst RA no doubt calls the shots  at Chelsea most of the PL owners are no different in terms of not being either UK or indeed EU citizens indeed some like Kroenke at Arsenal actually take money out of their clubs by way of salary, dividends, consultancy fees or indeed a simple salary.Most run their U.K. assets from afar.

Of course it could, as you suggest that he has been deemed not suitable to be allowed entry but as the only thing that will have been changed is the origin of his passport I can’t help but think that any decision to exclude would face challenge and in all probability such decision would be overturned.

1. He applied as an investor. Which is under tier 1 of the points based system. Which is for applicants applying to reside in the UK as an investor. 

2. The point about the subjective view is exactly right. Proof is not needed and the decision is made on the balance of probability. Subjectivity is part of it. Having worked in this area for years, I think it is highly unlikely that a visa officer or border force officer would grant entry as a visitor to someone who has recently been refused a visa to reside in the UK.

3. If his visa was refused due to it being deemed conducive to the public good, then it will not be because of his nationality...it will be because of a specific thing in his background which meets the threshold. Israeli, American , russian or any other nationality....it doesn't matter.

Anyway...will be interesting to see how it evolves. Will try not to make this into an immigration forum more than it has already been!

Roman has reportedly withdrawn his visa request.

 

mez

3 hours ago, mez said:

Roman has reportedly withdrawn his visa request.

 

mez

Not quite as bad as it sounds.. 

 

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Days-after-Aliya-Chelsea-owner-Abramovich-withdraws-UK-visa-request-558840

“He understands and respects that the UK are reviewing their processes, and has therefore chosen to withdraw [his visa request] until a new process is in place,” the source said, explaining that for the time being there was no need for Abramovich to have a visa.

Once the UK sets a new policy, though, “he will want to clarify any misunderstanding and speculations. He has spent many years in the UK and is a legitimate businessman. Nothing has changed,” the source said.

Abramovich visits the UK for only short periods. This means that he should have no problem traveling there on his Israeli passport

It will be interesting in these times of the New Cold War whether we will make an example of him due to the US wanting pressure put on anyone seen to be close to Putin.

59 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

It will be interesting in these times of the New Cold War whether we will make an example of him due to the US wanting pressure put on anyone seen to be close to Putin.

Nevertheless, he is planning to put over a billion pound into the UK economy. It would be short sighted of the government to reject that kind of financial injection. 

1 hour ago, enigma said:

Nevertheless, he is planning to put over a billion pound into the UK economy. It would be short sighted of the government to reject that kind of financial injection. 

I think you underestimate the government and their ability to be ridiculous. 

 

2 hours ago, enigma said:

Nevertheless, he is planning to put over a billion pound into the UK economy. It would be short sighted of the government to reject that kind of financial injection. 

Where is he planning to invest one billion pounds? 

8 hours ago, Total-Football said:

Where is he planning to invest one billion pounds? 

Not in the Stamford Bridge upgrade apparently

11 hours ago, enigma said:

Nevertheless, he is planning to put over a billion pound into the UK economy. It would be short sighted of the government to reject that kind of financial injection. 

The government's immigration policy in a nutshell, refuse a visa to somebody who puts millions into the economy, whilst letting hundreds of thousands in who do the exact opposite.

I expect the Government to quickly address this problem now, a £1 billion pound redevelopment without much help from our pathetic government, high stakes poker Roman cant lose, he holds all the cards, i suspect this was already perceived by Mental maggie et al, but lets see who blinks first, i know where my money would be..

the BBC is reporting that Abramovic has withdrawn his UK visa application. not sure where this leaves things if true. presumably he can reapply as an Israeli citizen if he wants? 

1 minute ago, carrickblue said:

the BBC is reporting that Abramovic has withdrawn his UK visa application. not sure where this leaves things if true. presumably he can reapply as an Israeli citizen if he wants? 

I posted this earlier which explains his decision.

 

“He understands and respects that the UK are reviewing their processes, and has therefore chosen to withdraw [his visa request] until a new process is in place,” the source said, explaining that for the time being there was no need for Abramovich to have a visa.

Once the UK sets a new policy, though, “he will want to clarify any misunderstanding and speculations. He has spent many years in the UK and is a legitimate businessman. Nothing has changed,” the source said.

Abramovich visits the UK for only short periods. This means that he should have no problem traveling there on his Israeli passport

People on other sites are saying that Roman has to declare where he got his wealth from and there'd be no objection from GOV

withdrawing his application is certainly a cause for concern, I think

The Times is reporting he'd want his billion quid back if he quits Chelsea...EEEK!!!!!

1 hour ago, Dixon said:

The Times is reporting he'd want his billion quid back if he quits Chelsea...EEEK!!!!!

Based on absolutely nothing, these journalists just embarrass themselves daily.