The Home Office has issued a statement encouraging creative and scientific individuals to apply through the Tier 1 work permit route if they wish to move to Britain.
A total of 1,000 Tier 1 work permits are made available through the Exceptional Talent route each year. They are open to those in the fields of humanities, engineering, science and the arts and aim to provide a route in to Britain for some of the most talented people in the world.
Among those who have applied recently are Hugo Desmarias, a Canadian circus artist who works for a number of different international companies. He said that the Tier 1 system offered a less complex and more flexible immigration route than the equivalent routes available in many other countries. He added in a recent interview with The Stage that there is “even a section for fire breathers”.
In an interview with the Arts Council, Mr Desmarias added that there are a lot of different steps involved in the application process. He advised any potential applicants to keep as much information about their career as possible.
As well as backing up any credentials that applicants want to put forward, the performer suggested that an immigration lawyer can be very helpful: “I wouldn't have been able to do it without my lawyer so, if that's an option, it should definitely be the first step for someone thinking of applying.”
While the UK work permit and visa systems have their positives and negatives, many people agree that there is a lot to be said for the benefits of working in Britain. Mr Desmarias noted that that country has “a great appreciation of the arts”, adding that he 'loves the scene' here.