Celebrities and immigration

Does anyone know if celebrities have to go through the same immigration visas, ect that we have to?

Yes, but they have "people" that handle things for them.   

Being they are established (")artists(") and have lots of money, I imagine it is easier for them.

I don't think they have the same restrictions we *normal* people have...I think there is even a special clause for them in the immigration rules.  I remember Monica Lewinski moved to London with no trouble - although I personally would not call her a celebrity.....

The answer is that yes, they do.  An actor coming over to make a film or perform in a play needs to get a work permit or a visa as an artist, depending on what they are going to be doing.  It isn't always that easy - with a work permit, the producers of the film/play will have to establish that no EEA national can take this role.  This is usually straight forward for mega stars, but not so easy for the guys in the B list.  For example, earlier this week Harry Shearer, star of The Simpsons, had to pull out of a Radio 4 play as he has problems getting a work permit.  There are often problems with footballers getting work permits, and a few years ago Mike Tyson was refused a visa to come to the UK for a fight.

My old firm did a work permit for a major US actress to come to perform in a West End play...and we didn't even get free tickets!!!

Lewinsky could have come over on a number of categories.

Vicky

I don't think they have the same restrictions we *normal* people have...I think there is even a special clause for them in the immigration rules.  I remember Monica Lewinski moved to London with no trouble - although I personally would not call her a celebrity.....

Aside from actors and performers who enter on a standard work-permit, there's no special clause for celebrities per se.  

There are special rules that apply for heads of state and close relatives of HM who are not British.   And there a few other special cases that could only be called strange and idiosyncratic artefacts from the days of Empire.  But Madonna (etc) used a SET(M) form and her ILR looks just like anybody else's.

There are also a number of high-profile celebs who are actually dual nationals.  Renee Zellweger, for example, has a Swiss father and Swedish mother and holds more than one passport.  Sandra Bullock, the daughter of a German mother.  And good ol' Donald Trump, who had a Scots mother.

Halle Berry's mum is from liverpool me thinks.

Plus Jonathan Ross discussed sometime ago he had a bit of hassle about his visa when he went to film for BBC so they get their small share of inconveniences from time to time.

Halle Berry's mum is from liverpool me thinks.

Both Kim Catrall's parents were Scousers, too.  Ditto Mike Myers, although he is Canadian.

Angelina Jolie's mother is French. 

damn immigrants

 

damn immigrants

 

and a few years ago Mike Tyson was refused a visa to come to the UK for a fight.

That was because of his criminal record, right?  He was disqualified, but didn't HO finally override and allow him in on "compassionate reasons"?

Ha! I'm glad somebody asked this. Every time I try to explain to my British half what we're going to have to do, he gives me the fisheye and says, "Do you think Madonna went to Croydon at six in the morning and stood in line?"

Why he thinks that has any applicability in our case, I do not know. Except that he'd be willing to pay something to make some of the more painful bits easier. Does anybody have experience with services or immigration lawyers or whatever constitutes having "people" in this context? I'm sure there's a pinned thread somewhere, but I can't find it.

"People"...ie immigration consultants?   

 

I don't know if there is a pinned thread actually.  Most people on this site had pretty straight forward applications so did them themselves.

Needless to say, most of my clients are the ones with tricky cases, rather than the ones rich enough to just pay 'people' to handle the applications for them...

 

Vicky

But Vicky...wouldn't you prefer to have the spoilt celebrities as clients?  They must be an absolute joy to work for...plus you would get to see their bank statements.  Voyeurism at it's best.