-Caveat Lector-
US officials deny visas for British pop stars
By Catherine Elsworth in Los Angeles
Last Updated: 2:30am BST 17/09/2007
Have your say Read comments
British performers are being forced to cancel American tours after
being denied visas, often because United States officials do not
consider them famous enough.
# Have your say: Have you had difficulties travelling to the US?
Singers such as Lily Allen, the Mercury Prize-winning band the
Klaxons and the London indie rockers Mystery Jets are among the
performers suffering visa problems.
Lily Allen, US officials deny visas for British pop stars
Lily Allen had her visa withdrawn last month forcing her to miss a
Las Vegas performance
Anticipated American tours by at least three British bands this month
have been cancelled or rescheduled because of visa issues.
In addition, at least 10 tours by other hyped British acts have been
scrapped due to visa problems over the past year, the Wall Street
Journal reports.
Despite having huge support in America, many British musicians are
failing to qualify for the P-1 class visa traditionally given to acts
who can prove they have been "internationally recognised" for a
"sustained and substantial" amount of time.
However, performers now can become the hottest property on the music
scene almost overnight without the large back catalogue and track
record of fame normally used to secure a US work visa.
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Telegraph - Menswear/Shoes
The Klaxons, formed in 2005, submitted magazine reviews as part of
their application for US visas last year to play in New York.
But officials delayed the application, forcing the Klaxons to cancel
their tour.
Allen was due to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards earlier this
month in Las Vegas before embarking on a sold-out West Coast tour.
But her US visa was taken away last month.
"It's going to slow momentum," her manager, Neale Easterby, said. "We
just want to get back out there." Have your say
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Comments
I'm going on a Caribbean cruise in January and recently had a note
saying that we would not be stopping at St Thomas, as the US
immigration procedures were taking up to 5 hours!
I have no desire to to a country that welcomes its visitors in such a
manner.
Posted by David Raison on September 17, 2007 1:20 PM
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I wish our US government would show the same zeal enforcing
immigration laws already on the books, as they apparently do with
people who try to visit legally.
Posted by Redwing on September 17, 2007 1:20 PM
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The US has between 10 - 20 million resident illegal
aliens, and accepts half a million legal immagrants
a year.
Add to this a legal system and culture that forbids
discrimination based on race, and you will get a
Chinese immigration officer who treats a British
citizen as if they were someone from Hunan being
brought in by a snakehead.
Posted by L A Rhoads on September 17, 2007 1:00 PM
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I am a Brit who lives in Hungary.I have just been told that when I
renew my passport it will have to be biometric and hence cost a
fortune because otherwise it would not be valid in the US. Hungary
would be willing to let me stay on here with the old style and as far
as I am aware the UK would let me in on the odd occasions I return
home to visit my family. I agree with other readers. Britain should
treat or cousins across the pond in the same way that they treat us
and if Americans want to see British bands let them come here and be
humiliated before entry (or return).
Posted by Malcolm Cameron on September 17, 2007 12:47 PM
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I am hoping that the USA applies tough Visas for everyone in Europe.
Europe can not control its population, so why should the USA suffer
from our stupidity.
Posted by David on September 17, 2007 12:30 PM
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Perhaps this is just a cynical method of precluding access to bands
who may be critical of the US Administration. Big name bands are more
susceptible to commercial and political pressure not to step out of
line.
Posted by R Tobin on September 17, 2007 12:14 PM
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I visited Texas last year and I remember that those of us arriving
from EEC member countries had to form a long queue, and most had some
problems ironing out incorrectly filled out forms. I hadn't filled
mine out at all, because I didn't know the address of where I was
staying. I called over an official, who was perhaps initially a
little hostile, but when I informed him that I was there to bury a
Texan pal whom I had been working with in Iraq, and only had his
mum's mobile number, he scribbled the address of the Marriot Hotel on
my form and smiled, "Welcome to Texas son, God bless you." I was
quietly ushered to the front of the queue with my still valid DoD
card in my hand.
Contrast that with Britain. Upon my return I was stood passport in
hand behind swathes of foreigners in the same queue. It's my bloody
country I thought, yet now everyone in Europe has the same right of
access to it as me!
Good luck to the yanks. They look after their own and long may they
continue to do so!
So what if it is hard for most people to get into the U.S.? It is not
as if we own the place anymore! Maybe they perceive that they have
enough anti-establishment drug-smoking musicians already.
Posted by Ex-Marine on September 17, 2007 11:54 AM
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The U.S. gives you a hard time due to your immigration policies. By
granting a British Passport to your Islamic Terrorist-wannabe
residents, you force the U.S. to clamp down on all travelers from the
U.K.
Posted by Vince on September 17, 2007 11:41 AM
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Why do they want to go to America anway? a place I would avoid at any
cost.
Posted by Mike on September 17, 2007 10:51 AM
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The US-Americans tend to think that their country has some sort of
special role in this world expecting every other country to respect
their way of thinking (see Irak and next Iran), however they still
want to control exactly and without courtesy what goes in and out of
their country.
Posted by [EMAIL PROTECTED] on September 17, 2007 10:09 AM
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Not really surprising. Considering that most pop stars are here today
and gone tomorrow, the Americans can be forgiven for thinking that
they are not well known. I mean, who remembers Elpis Vresley, or
whatever his name was.
Posted by Geoffrey Smith on September 17, 2007 9:54 AM
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Why do we and our cousins need visas to visit each others countries -
it certainly was not a requirement for the first 400 years! Anglo-
American co-existance and co-operation has formed the back bone of
commercial and global political development for the last two hundred
years and overall has been a force for spreading prosperity and
liberty in a manner vastly superior to those other political
influences of the era.
Posted by simon on September 17, 2007 9:40 AM
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The whole tour sold out, not very famous then.
The American administration is stupid and paranoid, but I don't think
anyone here needs me to tell them that.
Posted by Ian K Pestell on September 17, 2007 9:38 AM
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Chris Smith 4:05
Well, maybe, but surely that is for the market to decide ?
Posted by andrew cramb on September 17, 2007 9:12 AM
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it's their country and they can deny access to anyone they choose. I
just wish the UK adopted the same approach!
Posted by SEJ on September 17, 2007 9:12 AM
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Clearly, judging from the acts mentioned, we need to import some US
Immigration staff to save our ears as well ! Well done to the US for
recognising the talentlessness of most current UK pop/indie bands and
not letting them in.
Posted by Guy on September 17, 2007 9:10 AM
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Deputycleric 6:19
Quite right. And these are only "visitor" visas !
Posted by andrew cramb on September 17, 2007 9:09 AM
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Do they really think these are terrorist threats or are going to
settle illegally ? Crazy !
Posted by andrew cramb on September 17, 2007 9:08 AM
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Is it so difficult for New Labour to stop bending over backwards for
the Americans, and dish out the exact same treatment to the American
"stars" (difficult Visa's, 10 fingerprints, photographed etc. - the
full ritual humiliation experience of innocent people)? Only when
they squeal about their treatment will people bother to do anything
about anything.
Posted by David on September 17, 2007 8:55 AM
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I got married last August to an American, whilst
going about the legal way to obtain my green
card i have had to leave the country every 90
days. On Entry back i have been stopped every
time, made to wait hours, been shouted at, one
time by a chinese lady who could hardly speak
English herself, screemed at because i must be
rich, believe me the list goes on, I know they do
this to scare you but they went to far with me..I
bit my lip..it does not pay to fight back with
these immigration officers does it!!!
Posted by rosine Boyce-Derricott on September 17, 2007 8:49 AM
Report this comment
My son was arrested when entering the US a month after having stayed,
part in US and Canada, for 3 months researching for his degree. He
was to return for just one week, firstly to see the friends he had
made, and secondly to collect some books. US citizens are allow to
stay in the UK for 6 MONTHS but UK citizens are only allowed to stay
for 3. Where is the fairness in that? He obviously thought it was the
same. He was treated like a criminal, and his passport was stamped,on
every page, "not allowed to enter the US" Now he requires to obtain a
costly VISA to visit the US again, which he swears he will never do!
Posted by Maggie on September 17, 2007 8:35 AM
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