Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Permitted Paid Engagement visa route limits a professional's stay in the UK to up to one month; and what plans they have to extend the duration of its validity to 90 days.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Permitted Paid Engagement visitor route allows professionals in several sectors, including the creative sector, to enter the UK for up to one month to undertake permitted paid engagements, where they have been invited by a UK-based organisation and without the need to apply through the sponsored work routes.
Those wishing to undertake longer periods of engagement in the UK may use the T5 Creative concession, which allows non-visa nationals to enter the UK for up to three months without applying for a visa in advance, provided they have a Certificate of Sponsorship. For anyone wishing to remain in the UK for up to 12 months, the full T5 Creative route is also available.
We will continue to keep our policy under close review, including through wide engagement and dialogue with stakeholders from a range of sectors.
Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that the new points-based immigration system will support the creative industries sector; and in particular, how any such new system will take into account the needs of freelancers in that sector.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Migration Advisory Committee report on the future point-based system and salary thresholds has been published. We are considering their recommendations very carefully.