Charlie White, known as MoistCr1TiKal, a content creator on streaming platforms and owner of an esports organization, disclosed that he has been compelled to release the Moist Esports Apex Legends team due to recurrent denials of U.S. visas. This step was taken to ensure that the predominantly Australian roster can participate in the 2024 ALGS Split 1 LAN event.
Moist Esports initially faced visa-related complications at the beginning of the season when their Australian players were refused entry into the United States for the North American ALGS competition. Consequently, Moist was the sole team affected by the immigration restrictions and was compelled to compete in the online league from Canada.
At that time, MoistCri1TiKal criticized the government, asserting that the immigration agent handling their case lacked understanding of gaming and esports.
Visa Issue
However, the team’s challenges persisted. The organization’s owner disclosed in a YouTube video that despite multiple efforts to secure visas for the players, including the involvement of expert lawyers and EA executives, their paperwork remained unapproved.
MoistCri1TiKal expressed frustration in the video, stating, “Even with the goddamn Avengers on our side, U.S. immigration slams the door in our face… They’re Australian gamers, we are not trying to sneak in Viltromite aliens. What is the issue.”
The team received substantial support from EA. Due to their status as one of the top professional Apex Legends teams globally and their attainment of a high seed from North America in the ALGS Split 1 Major. However, to compete in the Los Angeles tournament, the players will need to disassociate from Moist Esports and compete under different visas.
Rejected
MoistCri1TiKal mentioned that his organization collaborated with several other esports organizations to expedite the visa process. But received minimal feedback from their agent regarding the reasons for the repeated rejections or how to rectify their applications.
The owner speculated that the team’s rejection might be attributed to the organization’s name, which could have made government officials uncomfortable.
“It might be the only reason we were rejected. At U.S. immigration it falls onto your particular agent. It is entirely their discretion whether or not you are allowed into the country with whatever you are submitting or doing… It is highly possible, and according to some lawyers, not unusual for them to decline things on very trivial reasoning,” he remarked.
Additionally, MoistCri1TiKal noted that the agent never explicitly cited the team name as an issue, likely due to the embarrassment it would cause to have such a reason in writing.
“The ice cream machines at McDonald’s work better than the U.S. immigration process,” MoistCri1TiKal criticized.
The former Moist players affirmed their presence at the Los Angeles tournament and praised the organization as one of the “greatest” they have collaborated with.