The Stage

Arts chiefs welcome changes to visa system

Published Tuesday 4 August 2009 at 13:05 by Alistair Smith

Arts leaders have welcomed a report by the Home Affairs Select Committee which recommends a raft of changes to the controversial points-based visa system, including the introduction of a fast track process, so that performers can enter the country at short notice in “exceptional emergency cases”.

Organisations including the Royal Opera House have previously complained that new visa regulations mean it is impossible for the company to draft in last-minute replacements from abroad if a leading artist, such as an opera singer, is taken ill before a performance. The ROH claimed that this could result in a loss of £225,000 for a single performance, if it is forced to refund tickets.

Meanwhile, venues including the Barbican Centre have complained that performers in certain parts of the world, especially Africa, are finding it cumbersome and expensive to obtain visas because there are not enough biometric collection points and artists are being forced to travel for up to three days to make an application. This, combined with long waiting times, has meant that some applications have taken as long as two weeks to process.

To address these concerns the committee has called for a new emergency exemption to be introduced so that visas can be fast-tracked through within 24 hours. It has also said that “as a matter of urgency” the government must establish more biometric collection points and mobile biometric collection centres, so that performers are not forced to travel long distances to obtain a permit.

Both these points were welcomed by Louise de Winter, director of the National Campaign for the Arts. She also called on the government and UK Border Agency to take on board the committee’s recommendations “as swiftly as possible”.

De Winter added: “One of the key issues for artists is the unacceptable length of time it takes to obtain a visa which has resulted in many artists missing rehearsals and performances.”

Meanwhile, Keith Vaz MP, chairman of the committee, said that while the transparency of the new system was to be welcomed, it threatened to “oversimplify a complex issue”.

He added: “We also feel that discretion is being applied in illogical ways - for example, no special provision has been made for exceptional cases of international artists or performers who occasionally require emergency visas, rendering them unable to perform in this country - whereas in other situations special exemptions have been granted for no apparent reason. Why, for example, should footballers be exempt from the requirement to speak English? That seems to be a case of money speaking louder than merit.”

Earlier this year, the Welsh-based ballet company Ballet Russe was forced to cancel its entire 2009 programme after difficulties with the new process. Meanwhile, Iranian film-maker Abbas Kiarostami pulled out of directing Cosi Fan Tutte for the English National Opera in May because of the UK’s “unduly time-consuming and hugely complicated” visa system. Many other companies and festivals have complained of vastly increased costs and difficulty in bringing over performers from outside the EU.