HSMP vs. Artist Visa- Help!

Hi!

I am new to this forum, my boyfriend in London found this for me and thought you guys might be able to answer some questions.

I have been trying to figure out what type of visa to apply for so that I can move to the UK and work as a freelance photographer.  I put myself through college working freelance, but since then I have been a staff photographer and photo editor (management) at 2 major newspapers.  I am an artist, but since I have a full time employer now, I don't think that visa applies to me.

That leaves me with the HSMP visa. I have enough points if they count both my BA and my BS but am 10 shy if they only count one. I am just over 28 so that counts me out for the younger HSMP  visa, which I could easily do. I have had interviews and lots of recommendations and people that want to hire me for contract work in London, but nobody that wants to sponsor me full time for a work permit.

Do any of y'all have any advice for how I can move to the UK and work while I live there?

thank you,

Jessie

I don't have experience in this type of Visa, but your post prompted some random thoughts.

Visa aside, I was wondering if it might be possible to find a job stateside that placed you in the UK. (ie: working in the travel section of a newspaper; moving into magazine photography for a freelance assignment, etc.)

I mention this aspect because I when first came to the UK, not to live, but to visit, I was working as a freelance artist (web design)...I was working for a US company, but because of the magic of the Internet and FedEx, they really didn't care where I was, as long as I got the work done. So, even though I was in the UK, I was earning US funds, which were deposited straight into my US account and I pulled out at ATM machines. And I didn't stay for long.

I mention these temporary possibilities because you're right, it's very hard to get sponsored for a Work Visa in the way you want to go about doing it.

If you are wanting to move permanently to England and have no intention of marrying your boyfriend (if he's British), then the temporary option isn't going to be for you. I was merely suggesting this as a way to see if you liked England enough to live here, see if you liked your bf enough to marry him...but it is only temporary and you would not be able to earn any UK funds, nor have many other benefits.

Unfortunately, I don't have any words of experience or wisdom on these types of visas.  It sounds to me like you're doing all the right things and looking up the right avenues.  It might be worth it to call up a UK consular's office and make some queries or it may be worthwhile to consult with an immigration lawyer who can advise you.

Best of luck and hope it goes well!

I have been working all the bureau roots I know. Surprisingly there are not as many photographers as there are reporters in bureaus, in fact I haven't found any. Most use local freelancers. But that does give me an idea . . . I can shoot studio work from any where and send it it. Time to call stock and modeling agencies and see if they need a photographer who knows how to throw a little light on a subject.

Do you guys have any immigration lawyers you can recommend??

Thanks for your help!!

If you want an immigration lawyer in the UK please let me know, I can recommend a former colleague in London who may be able to advise you.

That would be great if you could get me a name and a number, I could have my boyfriend in London contact him.

Thanks

If you want an immigration lawyer in the UK please let me know, I can recommend a former colleague in London who may be able to advise you.

Could I have that contact too? I have a friend who I think may qualify for an artist visa but I can't give her any advice. She does have a b/f here but they do not want to get married for personal reasons. All other options seem useless but she may qualify for the artist visa as she is a musician in a band signed to a major record label. (No, it's not Madonna  )

I don't think she will mind me posting her name on here, it's Christine Pepper she is with a firm that specialises in immigration law McGrath & Co in Maddox St, London W1. She is due to go on maternity leave sometime soon and I haven't heard from her in a while but hopefull she is still working at the moment. Hope this is helpful.

OK McGrath & Co. I will have my BF look into it. Thank you very much. Wish your friend well with her new baby!

Hi photogal,

I've come across a website which might be helpful to you as far as HSMP is concerned. The site is exclusively designed for HSMP Scheme. Following is the address of the site.

newcomer link: http://www.hsmp-services.co.uk [nonactive]

The site also has online yahoo support which can certainly help you.

Just go through it and have a best of luck.