License renewal issues for non Oz citizens

[rowdytoot]

Just thought I'd give everyone a heads up cos not everyone is an Ozzie Citizen..

Be prepared for a nightmare @ renewal if you are a UK or Irish citizen.

My NRL is expiring in a coupla days.. I sent in the renewal nice and early, got back a letter stating that I needed to provide proof of residence in Oz (since I'm not an Oz citizen)
.The issue is that I cannot provide prove that I live here. Both fro and Bogan have been to my house - why isn't this good enough!!

Only bills for services (such as gas, water, electricity) that are addressed to you @ your residential address are accepable as proof to the MSA in the UK(yes I'm a pommy bastard!).

Apparently the MSA has decided to be difficult about this just very very recently (I've never had an issue before), and it's causing a truckload of headaches!

Now, none of our bills come to our residential address, and the services weren't hooked up by me,hence all are in KT's name anyway so that's that out the freaking window!!

the only thing I've got is my car rego papers, but apparently that's not acceptable either.

I'm having to call the MSA tonight to attempt to sort this out, cos they won't allow CAMS to renew my license without it.

I'm hoping that I can show that I needed to prove I had a residential address to get my rego papers, and that will do otherwise, I'm stuffed, as are apparently a lot of other people according to Jeff @Member services..

I might be able to swing a temporary license for this weekend @ Oran Park, but I dunno if they'll let me do Ulladulla as well.

GRRR

Rowds

PS. I know the moral to the story is to get off my arse and get citizenship!

[tortfeaser]

You're not an Australian? Then my friend we have a problem.

Best thing to do is stump up for the Oz citizenship. Don't be afraid, it won't hurt. You still get to keep the EU passport. I'll even pay. Go here, now: http://www.citizenship.gov.au/how.htm

If you know the moral of the story, get cracking!

[Spac]

I've never worked out why the 'international licence*' thing is such a big drama for non-International events...

Who gives a rat's if some pommy bloke wants to live and race in Australia? If he's allowed in the country, particularly if he's allowed to live and work here, then why isn't he allowed to rally with us? Or is this the MSA's bizarre way of supporting the Aust Govt's stance on 'cue-jumpers'?

Dr Rowdy, are your employment details acceptable to the MSA?
What if you lie on your licence application to CAMS?

*Bad choice of words on my part - I'm not talking about a licence to allow you to compete in World Championship events...

[Mark]

Spac,

Isn't the whole point presumably to stop everyone getting a motorsport licence from Kenya for example where it probably costs the equivalent of $2 for an international/national licence or something. Might kind of p.ss CAMS off a beat. In fact there's an idea. First person to find the cheapest international licence in a third world country....

Mark

[fro]

Originally Posted by Spac

Dr Rowdy, are your employment details acceptable to the MSA?

Or at least get your employer to send you a letter at your home address?

Send them some junk mail? Surely you're getting spammed like everyone else in the world?

[fro]

Originally Posted by Spac

I've never worked out why the 'international licence*' thing is such a big drama for non-International events...

Hmmm, I wonder what address Toshi Arai used when he was "Australian" at SRoC 2004? And what "Proof of Residency" he supplied?

[Spac]

BossHair, Take Dr Rowdy's circumstance: He wants a CAMS (Australian) licence. Maybe he lives here, maybe he doesn't. Why does MSA give a rat's? The CAMS licence will only allow him to compete in Australia, so what are they worried about?

He's someone who is legally (?) living in Australia, who wants to race in Australia, so why can't he?

Similarly, if you or I got a Kenyan licence, what good would it do us when it comes to competing in Australia?

[Mark]

Spac,

I was wondering whether an 'international'-level licence from an FIA approved association is usable at any level of rallying. If so, it'd be interesting to see how relative the cost is.

But yes, I see what you're saying about why the frig would they care where you live...

Mark

[fro]

You're gonna laugh, but this is one of those FIA things. To make sure that you buy an international licence, so that your ASN gets extra money out of you.

The Catch22 is that you can then only compete with your ASN's international licence at international/FIA sanctioned events outside of your country*, or whatever your licence is eligible for within your country.

This leads to Japanese competitors that can't compete in Japan, because they have a CAMS Licence to compete at events in Australia/ARC. And people like Paul Pyvarra having to surrender his CAMS Licence so he can compete in the Chinese National Rally Championship.

I agree with Spac's premise. I fail to see why I cant have a CAMS Licence (Aust), an MSA Licence (UK), and a ??? Licence (Kenyan), if I want to compete at events within each/any country. And then, if I'm competing at a genuine international event, lets look at what country I'm a citizen of, and I'll buy my international licence from the ASN there.

* - Australia and New Zealand have the Trans-Tasman Agreement between the respective ASN's, that allows us to compete in both countries on our respective national licences, without them having to be declared "international events". I believe something similar exists in certain parts of the EU.

[fro]

Oh, as an aside, in the last few Judiciary Panel meeting minutes, there has been a discussion about the New Zealand Licences. Apparently, there is no area/page/space/whatever for stewards to note the penalties/warnings/comments that you might accrue as a competitor, and as such, makes it difficult for stewards to give you a hard time for being a consistently naughty boy!

[bob moore]

Originally Posted by Mark

Isn't the whole point presumably to stop everyone getting a motorsport licence from Kenya for example ..........

Damn!

Didn't think of that!



All those trips wasted!



Oh well, at least there was the medicine ..........

[Ric Cary]

Originally Posted by Mark

Spac,

Isn't the whole point presumably to stop everyone getting a motorsport licence from Kenya for example where it probably costs the equivalent of $2 for an international/national licence or something. Might kind of p.ss CAMS off a beat. In fact there's an idea. First person to find the cheapest international licence in a third world country....

Mark

Perhaps we should ask
Freddy Gocentas that world renowned Lithuanian (licenced) Co-driver

[fro]

Rumour (and all I heard was rumour) was that Fred was having issues with some medical requirement CAMS was trying to enforce upon him, so he told them to jam it, and got a Lithuanian licence? Don't suppose anyone can confirm/deny this?

Oh, and JME, dont' suppose you coudl shed some light on the hoops that Yamaguchi has to go through to compete over here?

[fro]

Originally Posted by bob moore

Damn!...

All those trips wasted!

Not wasted, Bob. Just building contacts.

It's not too late, GOB. Surely you know somewhere that could be, ahem, I mean, is your place of residence in Kenya?

Then you just need to get an International Licence from one of the following:

Originally Posted by FIA.com

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION OF KENYA (AAK)
AA House, 00100, Nairobi, KENYA

Tel: (+254 20) 825 060
Fax: (+254 20) 825 068
Email: aakenya@wananchi.com
Internet: www.aakenya.co.ke
President: A.C. JUMA

Originally Posted by FIA.com

KENYA MOTOR SPORTS FOUNDATION
Toyota Building, 00800, Nairobi, KENYA

Tel: (+254 20) 555 888
Fax: (+254 20) 558 444
Email: motorsportkenya@wananchi.com
Internet: www.motorsportkenya.com
President: Renzo BERNARDI

Given that Motorsport Kenya is the one that ran the Safari, and has rallying prominently all over the front of their website, I'd suggest going with them.

[bob moore]

Originally Posted by fro

is your place of residence in Kenya?

There are 2 answers to this question:
(a) mine
(b) my wife's