Breaking News

[PROG8R]

Breaking News
The Chinese Government has rejected a travel visa for Liu Wei, so he has officially withdrawn from the IPT North American Open 8-Ball Championship. Wei was the winner of the qualification event held in Shanghai, China, just several weeks ago. Details about his VISA rejection are sketchy, but some points that were articulated from the Chinese Government stated that he has no significant ties to China in terms of wealth or marriage. Through his representative in China, Wei expressed sadness and disappointment in not being able to compete for China in this prestigious event.

Wei's replacement is Lee Heuwagen, who was the second alternate on the waitlist to play in the North American Open. Heuwagen played in multiple IPT qualification tournaments. He was the second of only two players to place third in two North American Open qualifiers, a performance statistic that landed him in the number two spot on the alternate list. Heuwagen was called yesterday and told the news that he would be competing in the North American Open. He was very excited to hear the news, though he did state that he was disappointed for Liu Wei's unfortunate circumstance.

 

[pete lafond]

Horrible news. I can imagine how he feels. I hope things can get put in order soon enabling him to compete in future events.

This does sound awkwardly suspicious though. Does it to you? Is there something a delagate can do here?

 

[Nostroke]

I didnt know China was still like that. So if you dont have a house and a wife, they figure you may not come back? They got so many people, they should be looking to lose a few hundred million anyway.

 

[GADawg]

You sure this was rejected by the Chinese govenment? Having sent many Chinese to the US on business, I can tell you that these problems usually are with the US visa authorities. They are the ones who are afraid you will stay in the US without significant ties back to China.

The Chinese don't care. If he has a passport, he doesn't need to apply to the Chinese government at all to travel outside China.

I know that after winning the qualifier here, both he and Fu JianBo were concerned about getting US visas in time.

It's too bad in any case, because he played super in the qualifier and I was looking forward to seeing how he would do in the spotlight in Vegas.

 

[Timberly]

You sure this was rejected by the Chinese govenment? Having sent many Chinese to the US on business, I can tell you that these problems usually are with the US visa authorities. They are the ones who are afraid you will stay in the US without significant ties back to China.

The Chinese don't care. If he has a passport, he doesn't need to apply to the Chinese government at all to travel outside China.

I know that after winnng the qualifier here, both he and Fu JianBo were concerned about getting US visas in time.

It's too bad in any case, because he played super in the qualifier here and I was looking forward to seeing how he would do in the spotlight in Vegas.

Pete Fusco is the latest person to drop out of the playing field.

It's all right here.... http://www.insidepoolmag.com/billia...ipt-north-american-open/content/view/3727/76/

InsidePOOL was chosen back this winter to cover all of the IPT events from the qualifiers to the tournaments. They get the scoop first... I'd keep an eye on their website for any up to date news like this. They will also be covering the event for the IPT on the IPT website. At this time I don't know if they're going to update their site with the same info that they put up on the IPT site through out the tournament or not.

 

[smittie1984]

I didnt know China was still like that. So if you dont have a house and a wife, they figure you may not come back? They got so many people, they should be looking to lose a few hundred million anyway.

Yay Communism. Smashing. I'm glad Carl Marx was looking out for the Good of the people. Nothing like a loving government which has to force it's people at Gun Point to stay while we need to use guns to keep others out.

I believe in North Korea at the 38th parralel they have 2 gaurds stationed. Or one to match those on the South Korean's side. The 2 South Korea gaurds face the 2 North Korea gaurds. Which makes since. But the North Korean gaurds face each other incase 1 tries to bolt for the South.

That is sad news. Hopefully one day the Chinese people will say Enough is Enough and fight their government.

 

[cuechick]

From the wording in the article on the IPT site it sounds like the USrejected his Visa, not CHina. Which as GAdawg pointed out makes more sense and at the same time is senseless.

 

[Tommy Joe]

From the wording in the article on the IPT site it sounds like the USrejected his Visa, not CHina. Which as GAdawg pointed out makes more sense and at the same time is senseless.

I despise politics and political debates but am endlessly amazed at how Americans are convinced that the whole world outside the USA is enslaved and dying to get out at all costs. Same goes with Cuba. Castro said years ago if they want to leave, who needs 'em? Well, I said I despise politics, yet here I am talking about this stuff. But I'm not looking to debate, only posting to say how much it amazes me how each new generation of Americans is sold on the idea that the entire world is a slave-camp and the USA is the only safe haven for anybody. Insane.

Tommy Joe

 

[gulfportdoc]

I despise politics and political debates but am endlessly amazed at how Americans are convinced that the whole world outside the USA is enslaved and dying to get out at all costs. Same goes with Cuba. Castro said years ago if they want to leave, who needs 'em? Well, I said I despise politics, yet here I am talking about this stuff. But I'm not looking to debate, only posting to say how much it amazes me how each new generation of Americans is sold on the idea that the entire world is a slave-camp and the USA is the only safe haven for anybody. Insane.

Tommy Joe

That is incorrect about Cuba. It's just about impossible for Cuban nationals to leave their country. Why do you think so many risk their lives in primitive boats to try to get to Florida? If Castro said what you've quoted, then it was only to save face.

I don't believe people think the rest of the world is enslaved. But there's little question that a large part of the world's population wants to come here. Meanwhile, nobody is trying to leave the U.S.

Doc

 

[GADawg]

I see the IPT site has changed it's release headline on this. Yesterday it said Chinese government and today it says correctly US government.

I did not talk to Liu Wei directly but someone who had spoken to him confirmed to me that it was the US that rejected his visa application.

Part of the problem was the short time between the qualifier and the tournament. The US visa process here can be lengthy with multiple interviews required for cases like this and there was no time for all of that.

I feel badly for him and hope he can qualify again and get this visa issue sorted out in the future with more time. Once he gets a visa and goes and returns one time, the issue should be resolved.

 

[Flex]

I despise politics and political debates but am endlessly amazed at how Americans are convinced that the whole world outside the USA is enslaved and dying to get out at all costs. Same goes with Cuba. Castro said years ago if they want to leave, who needs 'em? Well, I said I despise politics, yet here I am talking about this stuff. But I'm not looking to debate, only posting to say how much it amazes me how each new generation of Americans is sold on the idea that the entire world is a slave-camp and the USA is the only safe haven for anybody. Insane.

Tommy Joe

Not the whole world, but there are places where slavery is commonplace. Sexual slavery is a problem in many countries, where women and children are enslaved and trafficked. I have friends who are exiles from Cuba, and they tell me it is a hell hole. Ditto for North Korea. You wanna go live in Saudi Arabia? Lots of freedom there, if you're a Muslim that is. Or how about China's one child policy? Have more than one goverment authorized child and it will cost you, first with a heavy tax, then potentially having your house bulldozed, and possibly facing being grabbed on the street, dragged onto an operating table, being strapped down and forcibly sterilized. Don't believe it? Check out the U.S. Congressional record from a few years ago and read the sworn testimony of a Chinese woman who was in charge of implementing the procedures to make sure each couple only has one child. The result? Well, I saw a photo in Glamour Magazine of a dead baby girl in the gutter in a Chinese city.

Communism is hell.

Flex

 

[BallBuster]

US Visa Officer and nazi...

I feel sorry for Liu Wei... I know how he feels..the US policy for issuing tourist visa is ridiculous and plain downgrading... Im a green card holder, I live in America for 7 years... I married my Shanghainese wife last year and was hoping to bring her over... unfortunately the fat and ugly nazi looking visa officer did not even look at the papers and documents me and my wife painstakingly prepared many months before she scheduled an interview in the US embassy... the visa officer like an experienced bucher immediately marked(denied) the passport of my wife without giving her any explanation and suspiciously look at my wife like a criminal wanting to escape to America... it was the most humiliating experience for her.. my wife tried to hold her tears until she was home.. at that time she was already 3 months pregnant... we bought a property in America together.. she also own a property in China.. she just want to be with me for at least two months and we promised she will be back to China.. we guarantee the property in America and China that she will be back to China.. in fact we are ready to agree to any conditions or restrictions about her visit to US... but these visa butchers has no heart at all... they think when you go to apply for visa.. your intention was to run away and stay in America... i tell you its not always like that... my wife has never had any idea of coming to (moreso) living in America.. she hate America.. even at the time I was pursuing her.. she always told me if I can stay in China or live somewhere else.. America is just not her type... my wife was never humiliated even once in her life until she went to US embassy in China.. the worst thing she experience... I don't know if my wife will recover from the trauma she suffered from the embassy official.. my wife is a very sweet and pretty girl.. and Im really lucky to have her... she is the best thing that happened to me... now we have a baby.. I feel great... at the same time a tragedy...

 

[Flex]

Oh, my, the big, bad U.S. government and a visa officer who's a nazi.

Sorry to hear about your wife's problems.

Flex

 

[memikey]

....... Hopefully one day the Chinese people will say Enough is Enough and fight their government.

.....and hopefully one day.....some of the flag waving "we're always right" Yanks will wait to hear the facts before they automatically jump to the conclusion that every bad development is due to some other nations shortcomings.

Wei Lu can leave China anytime he wants.He just can't enter the USA and it is the USA Govt alone who concluded after two interviews at the US embassy in China that Wei Lu had insufficient ties to China to ensure that he would leave the USA after the tournament and would not try to stay on in USA illegally.That is why they refused him an entry visa.Therefore Wei Lu's problem is one caused 100% by the USA Govt and not in any way whatsoever caused by the Chinese Govt.

The only surprise to me is how in this particular case the concerned USA Govt staff actually succeeded in getting their heads up their own rear ends when the anal openings concerned have obviously been blocked for quite some time

 

[bandido]

Just My Thoughts

Innocent until proven Guilty! Ideally but we've reached a point in the history of mankind where "Guilty until proven Innocent" seems to be the likely rule. I see it as a product of any society's evolution and reached at certain points in time where world economic shift factors in.

I feel that no one can really blame the US State Department, nor any other country's, when it comes to visa application outcome. The current emphasis is on homeland security and immigration plays a big part in this. Stricter and more in-tune-with-the-times set of requirements need to be met.

 

[GADawg]

Correct You Are

.....and hopefully one day.....some of the flag waving "we're always right" Yanks will wait to hear the facts before they automatically jump to the conclusion that every bad development is due to some other nations shortcomings.

Wei Lu can leave China anytime he wants.He just can't enter the USA and it is the USA Govt alone who concluded after two interviews at the US embassy in China that Wei Lu had insufficient ties to China to ensure that he would leave the USA after the tournament and would not try to stay on in USA illegally.That is why they refused him an entry visa.Therefore Wei Lu's problem is one caused 100% by the USA Govt and not in any way whatsoever caused by the Chinese Govt.

The only surprise to me is how in this particular case the concerned USA Govt staff actually succeeded in getting their heads up their own rear ends when the anal openings concerned have obviously been blocked for quite some time

I don't really blame the visa officers for being careful. It is their job and they are constantly hasseled for special handling of cases, etc. I know because I have been one of the hounders in the past.

I just wanted to correct the information about who denied the visa.

I will avoid political comment on a billiards forum except to say that is is typical of Americans (and I am one) to be very critical of everything, without having all, or any of the facts. For most, the closest they really come having international experience is going to IHOP. That is not a criticism, just the truth.

Over the years I have had over a hundred American and other Western business people visit me in China. They were mostly conservative WASP types, like me, who came in with either negative or skeptical views about China. Without exception, their reaction after being here was "Wow, this is nothing like I expected!"

Let's get back to pool.

 

[BallBuster]

@flex... thanks for the wish.. you see i never said America is a bad country... America is a great country.. this is indeed a land of opportunity where everybody is equal. this is a country where you can call your boss, even the owner of your company by their first name... this thread is not enough to detail all that is good about America,.. being an American citizen is a privilege... some people take it for granted but really being an American citizen is an advantage and a privilege... my focus in my previous post is about the US visa officers who go beyond their duties (in a bad way)... Colen Powell in fact issued a directive that the visa officer should at least listen or give the application an opportunity to explain or prove their application and not just be turned away like a fly... not all the US-visa officers are like that... it's like a lottery you fall in line for 5 sometimes 10 hours in the heat of the sun, no chair or ventilation because its outside the building... when you get lucky, you will be "interviewed" by a reasonable, real gentleman US-visa officer... if not, you get your red mark in a second... no explanation, not even looking at your documents.. they stare at you like a criminal and then they ask you to leave in a very embarassing way... this is not American way... like I said, even the US government is embarassed of these officers...

 

[BlowFish]

It doesn't only happen with Uncle Sam, it happens to any major country. It's called Profiling and if you come from a 3rd world country, you're always suspect or guilty until proven innocent as Bandido mentioned.

I've travelled many a country and work for a prominent American firm, but holding a Filipino passport, is always suspect. No matter how I dress, I'll be asked and stopped and will be subject to many questions before I'll be let go. I never let it ruin my day. It's how the world goes and I just accept it. I have many colleagues who are even denied entry.

Life is not just, it will never be fair.

 

[cuechick]

Well I think the IPT should allow him to use his Qer spot in another tournament since it was really their fault for not scheduling enough time between the Q'er and the event.

Now they know!