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In July 2008, the UK Border Agency announced changes to visa regulations for students outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Of particular concern to those students studying music and other performing arts, is that they have added a clause which states that they must not “provide services as a professional sportsperson or entertainer”.

This means that as long as you are a music student in the UK as a non-EEA national, you are prohibited from being paid to provide musical entertainment, although it is not clear whether unpaid “services” are allowed. Music students who need extra income to support themselves must now instead seek other kinds of part-time work.

This new rule comes bundled with a whole slew of well-publicised changes, which according to the UKBA, are designed to stamp out illegal immigrants coming into the UK through “bogus colleges”:

1. The requirement of biometric visas (i.e. fingerprints)

2. The new incredibly bureaucratic system of “Sponsorship”, where each foreign student is required to be essentially baby-sitted by the “parent” educational institution – if a student is not attending his or her classes, the school is obligated to report to the government, or else risk having their Sponsoring License taken away! Whether or not a student attends class should be a matter between the school and the student. Should truancy be a basis upon which to label somebody as a potential criminal?

3. Increases to the amount of funds you need to have in order to qualify for a visa. They are requiring £800 a month (£9600 a year) for living costs on top of tuition fees. Some are calling this a draconian requirement, and moreover when surveyed, only 5 out of 67 institutions advised having £9600 or more a year for maintenance.

However, the new rule which restricts music students from earning money through their most natural means, music… The media is silent on the issue.

What does this mean for prospective music students from places outside the EU such as North America, Russia, Asia? For many, it will mean that studying in the UK will be unaffordable. The ability for a non-EU student to be paid as a musician has no relevance at all to “border security”.

Since the news is quiet on the issue, it is up to individuals like us to make people aware of the problem. If you have been affected by these regulation changes, post your experiences here. British nationals, speak up, stand up for your friends from overseas! Invite anybody you know who is a student, musician, or cares about the future of Britain.