Visa refusals for African and Asian touring artists seeking to perform in the UK and the EU are “humiliating and costly,” according to a report in The Guardian. Price hikes in early 2023 of 15% for work and tourist visas have widened the inequality in rejection rates by country of origin, according to a study by migration research group LAGO collective. African visitors have faced disproportionate rejection rates of as high as 70%, with Algeria recording the highest visa rejection rate at 71% and Bangladesh second highest at 53%. Applicants from Ghana, Nigeria and Pakistan faced rejection rates between 30% and 46%, compared with an average rejection rate of 21% across all nationalities.
Non-refundable visa fees disproportionately affect visitors from low and middle income countries, the report states. Last year, the UK raised £44m in fees for visa applications that were subsequently rejected, while the EU raised €130m. The fees have a “chilling impact on cultural diversity,” said a number of music industry professionals, with Ghanaian-Scottish author Lesley Lokko calling them “outrageous”. British poet Lemn Sissay said the disproportionate visa refusal and the process are “delegitimising or shaming people of colour,” adding, “The idea is that you are not welcome.”
Despite the UK priding itself on its vibrant and diverse music scene, the difficult and humiliating visa application process has led many African and Asian artists to consider stopping touring altogether, with the report identifying a number of musicians who were booked to play and then denied entry. Many musicians have been deterred from returning to try again despite being booked. Such barriers could irreversibly damage the UK’s musical landscape.
To read the full report, click here
Read the full article from Mixmag here: Read More