This must be a joke!

Midfielder Joey Barton will have to convince United States immigration officials he is not a danger to the public before he can join Newcastle on their pre-season tour.
Full story: Daily Mirror

The link on BBC gossip column goes to something different, so I don't know the full story, but this is surely taking the piss!

 

Not a joke, American immigration doesn't like people with criminal records.

 

Really? Just about every American has murdered someone! They are the biggest criminals going. Barton is an angel compared to the average American.

 

Exactly what I was thinking. Instead of sorting out who comes in to the country, perhaps they should sort out what is already in it!

 

****ing joking aren't they
pathetic this

 

Yet this guy is free to travel around...

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American's are tight about things like this. Drugs too, won't let you in if you got caught doing drugs. Refused to let Pete Doherty in for a Libs/Babyshambles tour I believe. Or, had loads of trouble with it.

 

They don't call it murder over there, they call it population control.

 

How strict are they? Will Ranger be allowed in? He's done time, but not for violence though.

 

Wow, talk about an over reaction. I can see why they'd do it for you know, normal people. But, for a footballer traveling with his team...takes the piss a little bit. Surely?

 

Yeah they're really bad like, once watched/read an interview with Ewan McGregor talking about before he was really famous in the states. The only film that'd been show in the US was Trainspotting and he said he had a ridiculously hard time at customs. The daft twats thought it was a documentary film and that he was a proper junkie. How thick can you get?

 

Isn't it true that you have got to consent to having your fingerprints taken at immigtaion control before they'll let you in? And I had heard about plans to make iris scanning compulsary too.

 

Yeah but Eminem is God so he can go, or do whatever he pleases!

You think they would relax the rule for professional sportsmen though.

 

Joey Barton IS Amy Winehouse!!! Another one who was banned from entering the US, which is strange considering the amount of pikey looking so and so's that have entered her.

 

Isn't that a bit unfair on Iris, why pick on her? Can't she claim sexual harassment?

 

yeah as already said america is a pain in the arse to get into if you have a criminal record they are mega anal about these things and the custom officers can be very rough and take no ****. still a joke though

 

To be fair, I think the issue is the journalism...You DO need to tell them that you've committed a crime/done time in jail on your VISA and I'm pretty sure it requires you to go have a specific meeting with someone at the embassy but no more than that...Drug crime is a different matter though!

 

Though I've travelled to America plenty of times already on my British passport, but because the feckers have changed the laws and because my passport has Place of Birth as Ohio I've got to piss about going to the Embassy for an interview and to pledge allegence to the flag to get an American passport which will cost about £90 for the passport.
What a **** on, and the info they want is crazy.

They'll let all the ****ers out bout won't let anyone in!!!

 

To be fair the UK follows a similar policy.

I recall an issue with that Snoopy Diggity Doggie chap getting into the country.

 

If you so much as get a caution for drugs in this country you have an note on your record for life (long after the caution expires) and America won't let you in!
It's got a name in the Police alphabet, but I've forgotten what it's called.