REVISED – 31 August 2014
INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS BY LETTER OF APPROVAL
The rules have changed for the need for an International Transfer and verified with the International Ice Hockey Federation.
NEW CRITERIA
The criteria for the need of an International Transfer, by a Letter of Approval, are now based on where the player starts playing ice hockey and where they were born and not initially their nationality.
This applies to any player who registers in the UK for the first time, and has never played before and has a British birth certificate.
Their “Home Association” will be classed as IHUK.
REVISED – 31ST August 2014
PLAYERS WITH A BRITISH BIRTH CERTIFICATE
Any player who has never played before and has a British birth certificate, no matter of their nationality can register without the need of an International Transfer. (LOA)
It is very important that the Master Player Registration Document is completed correctly and all sections are answered.
You must make the player/parents aware that as a new player their “Home Association” is IHUK and if they leave the UK for another country they will require an International Transfer from IHUK to play elsewhere.
ALL PLAYERS WITHOUT A BRITISH BIRTH CERTIFICATE
All players, including British Citizens, who were born in another country, require an International Transfer (LOA)
The only exception is if they can prove the family came to the UK, or returned to the UK if a British Citizen, before the players 1st birthday.
It is very important that the Master Player Registration Document is completed correctly and all sections are answered.
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In the case of those players who can prove they arrived in this country before their first birthday the same rules apply, you must make the player/parents aware that as a new player their “Home Association” is IHUK and if they leave the UK for another country they will require an International Transfer from IHUK to play elsewhere.
ALL PLAYERS
Whilst these players “belong” to IHUK it does not give them the right to be selected for a Conference, England Team or Great Britain Team, unless they can supply a copy of a British Passport.
Existing players already on an LOA with a limited clearance will continue to need an LOA when their clearance date has been reached.
INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER BY LETTER OF APPROVAL
Who NEEDS an International Transfer?
1) Any player who was born in another country.
2) Any player coming into the UK who has been playing in another country.
3) Any British Citizen who was born abroad, whether they have played before or not.
4) Any player already playing in the UK whose current LOA has expired they need to renew their LOA to continue to play in the UK
5) Any player going to play abroad who has previously been registered in the UK.
Who DOES NOT NEED an International Transfer?
Any non-British player with a British birth certificate registering in the UK and has never played before.
Any non-British player or British Citizen who can provide proof they came into the UK before their 1st Birthday.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION
1. Admin fee of £45.00 sent by bank transfer to IHUK using code – Players surname following by LOA as an example (JONES LOA)
2. IHUK bank details:
BANK: Lloyds TSB
ACCOUNT: Ice Hockey UK Ltd
ACCOUNT NO: 01651974
SORT CODE: 30-98-97
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Note: No LOA application will be processed until I have had confirmation from IHUK the admin fee has been paid.
LETTERS OF APPROVAL
Note: There are two types of International Transfers.
Limited:
The maximum limited clearance to play in the UK is two (2) years at a time. The clearance date is always 30/06/??, which ever year the parent decide.
A renewal application can be applied for if the family intend staying in this country after the original clearance date has expired.
Unlimited:
This is where the player/parents decide the player wishes to permanently belong to the UK.
It is the clubs responsibility to explain to the parents the consequences of requesting unlimited. Should the player wish to move in the future he could be required to pay for an ITC: Make sure the parents read the Unlimited Transfer Card Request Form and fully understand the contents.
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REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR AN LOA
Limited
Completed LOA Application Form
Copy Birth Certificate
Copy Passport
Parental Letter confirming player has relocated with the family
Unlimited
Completed LOA Application Form
Unlimited Transfer Card Request Form – This must be signed and dated by the parent and countersigned by a witness.
Copy of Birth Certificate
Copy of Passport
Parental Letter confirming player has relocated with the family
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GENERAL GUILDLINES
1. Once admin fee has been paid allow a minimum of 7/14 days for the application to be approved.
2. No player can be added to Fixtures Live, in England, until the club is in receipt of the returned approved LOA.
3. No player can be registered with 2 Associations at the same time. If a player registers in the UK this will automatically be cancelled once he moves to play abroad.
4. All documents to be scanned to me in a PDF format. Each document must be a separate scan.
5. The approved LOA is only valid for the club named on the LOA.
6. If a player on a limited transfer wishes to transfer to another club I need to request this and have the club changed on the LOA. I then need to lodge the change of club with the IIHF.
7. International Transfers by Letter of Approval are only valid for players under the age of 18 years.
8. It is now possible, age permitting, for a player on an LOA, either Limited or Unlimited, to seek dispensation to play up to a senior team without the need for an ITC until the end of the season of their 18th birthday, after which he would require an ITC to continue to play senior hockey depending on their clearance status. Dispensation to play senior hockey can only be granted by Mr. Andy French, General Secretary, IHUK. Senior teams to apply to Andy for dispensation and should include a copy of the players current LOA.
PLAYERS WHO CAME INTO THE UK BEFORE THEIR IST BIRTHDAY
To be able to register a player without the need of an LOA on sending registration documents to be registered they must include an official document of some kind showing the date they entered the UK. This must be dated before the players first birthday.
Valerie Wilkinson
IHUK Administration Manager for International Transfers by Letter of Approval
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