Priti Patel and her 8 million

[oddoneout]

This could be easily solved with a fixed term multi-entry visa for artists.

Wouldn't solve the weak link, which is the issuing authority, and so long as the Home Office continues to be feral and unaccountable weak links will remain and make otherwise sensible solutions unworkable.

[mallard fizz]

Wouldn't solve the weak link, which is the issuing authority, and so long as the Home Office continues to be feral and unaccountable weak links will remain and make otherwise sensible solutions unworkable.

So what do you suggest?

[Bryn]

What are the fees under current practice that are prohibitive, inflated or both?

Basic fee per person for short term work, £244, plus vairious extras for health, plus up to £800 for fast response, again, per person. That sort of fee structure would have prevented, for instance, a bunch of us Scratch Orchesra stalwarts heading for Berlin to run workshops this coming autumn. Our hosts are enthusiasts, not moneybags.

[mallard fizz]

Basic fee per person for short term work, £244, plus vairious extras for health, plus up to £800 for fast response, again, per person. That sort of fee structure would have prevented, for instance, a bunch of us Scratch Orchesra stalwarts heading for Berlin to run workshops this coming autumn. Our hosts are enthusiasts, not moneybags.

I've seen ball-park figures of £90 for a two year m/e visa. Where are your figures from?

[Bryn]

I've seen ball-park figures of £90 for a two year m/e visa. Where are your figures from?

Copying links is problematic on this phone. Search for Tier 5 visas.

[mallard fizz]

Copying links is problematic on this phone. Search for Tier 5 visas.

Tier 5 can be for up to 2 years for creative and sports people. Better to have a simple 2 yr m/e visa for circa £90 should work. Can't see why this can't be done.

[teamsaint]

I think this is a good, thoughtful article.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/25/historian-future-brexit-opinions

[pastoralguy]

I think this is a good, thoughtful article.

https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...rexit-opinions

[oddoneout]

I've seen ball-park figures of £90 for a two year m/e visa. Where are your figures from?

I think this https://www.gov.uk/permitted-paid-engagement-visa is the relevant visa for many of the activities concerned, and the initial cost is indeed relatively low. The cost of providing the necessary documentation can be problematic though, especially if it isn't all accepted first time round, or needs certified translation for instance. From what I can remember of articles I've read over the past 18 months or so simply getting the documentation to where it can be officially validated may involve long and expensive journeys - visa application centres may be few and far between. Out of interest I tried looking up for some African countries but the contracted out website is "experiencing technical difficulties".

[muzzer]

I do a lot of business visas. The current “commercial partner” of the Home Office responsible for taking biometrics and processing the application has varying capacity according to the territory from which the individual applies. The system works tolerably well if the applicant and employer know exactly what is required well in advance and comply to the letter with these requirements. I imagine going forward that anything in the creative sector will be more expensive and slower than it is now if only because the government spots the chance to turn a coin and has no regard for any disgruntlement it may generate. That’s aside of the appalling politics of this philistine government of course.

[MrGongGong]

I'll stop commenting then

[jayne lee wilson]

Just perfect.....

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2020/feb/21/martin-rowson-on-priti-patels-immigration-plans

[ardcarp]

And if anyone wants a wry laugh at the haves/have-nots situation, have a listen to this:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008jf9

[Serial_Apologist]

And if anyone wants a wry laugh at the haves/have-nots situation, have a listen to this:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008jf9

I listened to that the other day thinking AS had recovered a lot of his old sharpness.

[Bryn]

A recent Tweet from Philip Pullman:

https://twitter.com/PhilipPullman/status/1231510797328711680

If some perverted vandal wanted to starve, choke, and finally kill off the art of music in this country, they couldn't do better than impose the suggested visa regulations. Ignorant, brutish folly. Why? Why?