Guidance - Permit free employment (INF 14)...anyone have this visa?

Again, I am a bit confused about the interpretation of the requirements site on www.ukvisa.gov.uk

Is it saying I need the visa if I do fall under the list of criteria or only if I don't?  The list of criteria for artists and writers includes such things as having supported yourself solely in that manner for the past year, etc

thanks for any help you can give...   I so wish I understood "legal speak"

If you are applying as a writer, composer, or artist, you must:

have built a reputation outside the UK and be mainly involved in producing original work, which has been published (not just in newspapers and magazines), performed or exhibited for its literary, musical or artistic merit

intend to work only as a self-employed writer, composer or artist

have supported yourself and your dependants for the last year from your own income without working, except as a writer, composer or artist, and

be able to support yourself and your dependants from your own income without working (except as a writer, composer or artist), and without needing any help from public funds.

If you don't meet those qualifications, you won't qualify for the visa.  The way I'm reading it, you need to be a well-established and pretty well-known artist/writer/composer to qualify.

If you don't meet those qualifications, you won't qualify for the visa.  The way I'm reading it, you need to be a well-established and pretty well-known artist/writer/composer to qualify.

I just finished one of these and they got very *absolutely* interested in the history this woman had as an established artist, like gallery reviews, media clips, newspaper articles, and what-not.  Plus they checked to see if she had exhibited in other places.  They were rather thorough about it, actually calling around.

Also, the idea of supporting yourself by artistry alone needs to be documented.  So when she sold 5 paintings in 1 year for 8,000 - 10,000 each, that's fine, but if it were 5 paintings a year at 1,000 each, then it would be a different story.  And you can't renew without showing the income.

On balance, it's a nice visa to have but difficult to get...

thank you, that was where I got confused...I wasn't sure whether you could qualify or not without meeting those requirements, but now I understand

and altho I have done "decent" relatively speaking, making several sales in the States, none of them on their own could have supported me

so once again, thwarted
 

so once again, thwarted
 

Truly, unless there's something you haven't told us about your circumstances, your only option to settle here permanently is to get married. (taking into account that you don't want a student visa, don't have ancestry rights, an offer of a work permit, don't qualify for UP or HSMP visas, etc.)  Not trying to be mean, just saying that you shouldn't drive yourself mad trying to find another way to stay.

lol...I wouldn't say I'm driving myself mad LOLA just looking at the other potentialities...
where did I ever say I don't want a student visa? I said I don't qualify for one as I am not a full time student in the States and cannot afford to matriculate in a UK university...and I've no idea what UP or HSMP visas are

as far as telling you my circumstances, I'm not sure what I can say that hasn't already been said...
I've made sales of my paintings, various crafts and writing but none that could be called sufficient to support myself from, and have always worked at least a part time job in addition...

I don't think you're trying to be mean, I just think I'm feeling frustrated at the difficulties.

UP = Unmarried Partner visa
HSMP= Highly Skilled Migrant Programme

 

Victoria

thank victoria 

lol...I wouldn't say I'm driving myself mad LOLA just looking at the other potentialities...
where did I ever say I don't want a student visa? I said I don't qualify for one as I am not a full time student in the States and cannot afford to matriculate in a UK university...and I've no idea what UP or HSMP visas are

as far as telling you my circumstances, I'm not sure what I can say that hasn't already been said...
I've made sales of my paintings, various crafts and writing but none that could be called sufficient to support myself from, and have always worked at least a part time job in addition...

I don't think you're trying to be mean, I just think I'm feeling frustrated at the difficulties.

By "want", I was referring to your saying in another post that a student visa was not an option for you.  

UP = unmarried partner visa

HSMP = highly skilled migrant program

Understanding the immigration rules can be really frustrating and it's frustrating to watch others try to figure out how to stay...was just trying to help by saying that it doesn't appear that there are any other visas appropriate for your situation.

It's okay Lola, as I said, I was not put off by your comments, just merely  frustrated in general. I do appreciate your replies.

All the best

It's okay Lola, as I said, I was not put off by your comments, just merely  frustrated in general. I do appreciate your replies.

What I thought Lola was saying is that a person's root motivation for wanting to come to the UK is usually matched by one or more visas that can be obtained.   And if they don't work out, the further along the axis a person goes away from their root motivation, the more frustrated they are likely to be.

If it's an short orthogonal shift, like a young person getting a student visa when the root motivation is to pursue a relationship, then the burden isn't so heavy.   An artist visa is several rungs away from that, so of course there would be frustration. 

The only advice I can give is to avoid the judgement errors that can accompany wanting something a lot and being frustrated about not getting it.

Before Christmas, I was helping a woman who wanted an Unmarried Partners visa, but only had 5 months of cohab.  And she couldn't afford a student visa, and any other kind of visa was unworkable.  So I had to just tell her that it wasn't going to work.  But she really wanted it bad.

So she went to another advisor who told her that she could apply for LLR under the Ankara Agreement of 1963, and since the turn-around time for those is the longest time of any visa, she will be clocking up her UP time - and probably qualify.  Sheer gall.  Now that's got to be the dodgiest scheme I have ever heard of.  Cheeky too.  And she had to pay 2,370 quid for it.

Maybe it will work.  It probably will, and that bugs me.  But I hope she gets done for illegal entry because it's a judgement error born from frustration.  And the advisor should be done too, but she won't tell me his name.

So be careful.  Patience is key.

Garry the root reason I want to come here is because I have wanted to live in the UK since I wasabout 13, because of various reasons.   My original intent was to come here to pursue my writing,  painting and photography (practice of  not sales!) while getting aquainted first hand with the reality of life in Britain as opposed to my childhood fantasy.
I just happened to meet someone while here which now solidifies my  desire to remain...
And since he is not prepared to face the prospect of marriage at this stage of our relationship, I have been researching other options.

Also, I want to ask you directly (or anyone else who might know)...is the visitor visa only good for 6  months out of any calendar year,  as someone told me, or can I go back to the States for a few months and return for another 6 months?   When I return to the States this time, as scheduled, I will have been here for roughly  4 and a half months out of 2006

Also, I want to ask you directly (or anyone else who might know)...is the visitor visa only good for 6  months out of any calendar year,  as someone told me, or can I go back to the States for a few months and return for another 6 months?   When I return to the States this time, as scheduled, I will have been here for roughly  4 and a half months out of 2006

Seems to be a hit or miss w/some posters as to whether or not they're allowed back in - some get an IO who isn't down w/it; others have no problem.

Expat is right -- some IOs don't tolerate it and some seem not to care...depends on the luck of the draw, it seems.  The best thing to do is be prepared to prove that you're here for a legitimate reason, aren't planning to try to settle here, have money to support yourself for the duration of the visit (so you need bank and/or credit card statements), and that you have a reason to return to the US (letter from employer, copy of lease/mortgage, etc.).

I go back to the States for a few months and return for another 6 months? 

The basic answer to your question is yes.

There is no limit on the number of visits a person can make to the UK, and there is no requirement that a specific period of time must elapse between visits.  The basic rules assume that when a visitor leaves the UK, their LLR is voided.  When they return, they need a brand new LLR.

To balance that statement, the IDI's contain a constructive rule that says a person's time in the UK as a visitor normally should not exceed 6 months out of any year.  If an IO does not believe your intent on visiting the UK, they can use this rule to prevent you from entering.

Do people leave the UK and then come back in?  Yes.  It's quite common. 

Is that legal?  Yes.

Do people go out and come back and get refused entry?  Yes, that happens a lot. 

Do people go out and come back and get a reduced LLR?  Yes, but it's less common. 

If a visitor comes to the UK and stays for 4 months, goes to France, and returns and is given another entry stamp and then stays for another 4 months, it means they will have stayed in the UK for 8 months.  Are they an overstayer?   No.  An overstayer is someone who has stayed beyond the end date of their leave.  The end date of their leave is stamped in their passport each time they enter.  A person can't really overstay if their LLR is still unspent.

Is it all truly down to whether or not the IO is in a good mood?  I know it looks that way sometimes, and there probably is a small element of chance involved.  *BUT* reading the statistics and profiles, what you get is that they are astonishingly consistent.   And the notion that everything is based upon luck underestimates how the Immigration Service works.   Based upon that, there's no excuse for not being prepared with the stuff Lola mentioned above.  And if you're still worried, then get an entry clearance.