Advice for American Actors Wanting to Move to the UK to Work

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ERinVA
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Advice for American Actors Wanting to Move to the UK to Work

Post by ERinVA »

I thought this article would be of interest to people who wonder about the process of working as an American actor in the UK, as we know several Billys in the London production did. This focuses on adults who are contemplating moving to the UK to work, so it might or might not be relevant to the American Billy in London experience.

https://www.backstage.com/advice-for-ac ... =editorial
The visa process will be arduous.
“There is a Creative Sector Code of Practice within the immigration rules that sets out the category of performer and the evidence that they need to show in order to stand any chance of obtaining a visa. It used to be the case that [the via process] was more knockabout, and you could be a lot less defined in the application if you’d made one 10 years ago. But it’s a different regime now to what it was pre-2008 and pre–points-based. You can no longer assume any knowledge. You’ve got to build your case and not assume they’ll take a leap of faith and let you into the country.

“You’ve got to take [the visa application process] against the backdrop that what the government is trying to do is make sure that jobs are available for British or European actors. You’ve got to justify why you deserve that visa over someone in the European economic system.” —Robert Sparks, London-based immigration lawyer who’s helped actors and dancers obtain visas since 2001
Here's a related article about training in the UK and beginning a career as an actor:
https://www.backstage.com/backstage-gui ... -actor-uk/
Ellen



"I don't want people who want to dance; I want people who have to dance.”
-George Balanchine 1904 -1983


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