What is the point of easing restrictions and controls on intra-EU
travel and exchanges while erecting even more barriers with non-EU
nationals? Another step towards consolidating 'fortress Europe'...?
With regards to the academic visa rules, sabbaticals and other formal
exchange arrangements are arguably quite straightforward. But the rest
of the rules seem too elastic and open to the interpretation of border
officials. For example:
>> Foreign academics who want to come to the UK simply to share knowledge or
>> experience, or to hold informal discussions with their UK counterparts
That just about covers everything! Surely one should just say
'visiting friends' as suggested in the Times Higher article...
(http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=405915)
>> Foreign nationals who intend to conduct research for their own private
>> purposes - such as to do research for a book - and are funded from a UK
>> source
I have in the past conducted field research in London while based in
Singapore (with Singapore funding). Would I still need to apply for
this visa if it is not funded from a UK source? But if I should visit
any UK universities for informal discussions with fellow researchers
(as most of us do to make the most out of a trip), that will fall
under the previous catch-all condition.
I just saw this on the UK Border Agency website:
VAT12.3 Is entry clearance mandatory for Academic visitors?
Entry clearance is mandatory in this category for those seeking more
than six months leave to enter. However, it is not mandatory for
non-visa nationals seeking leave to enter for six months or less.
Does that mean we need not bother about this unless seeking to enter
the UK for more than 6 months (e.g. for conferences or fieldwork)? I
am not keen to test that out with over-zealous border officials
though... (having said that, my only bad/strange experiences have been
with non-UK border controls so far).
Karen
--
Dr Karen P.Y. Lai
Postdoctoral fellow
Department of Geography
University of British Columbia
1984 West Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2
Canada
Tel: (+1) 604-822-9105
Fax: (+1) 604-822-6150
Email: [log in to unmask]
http://karenlai.wordpress.com
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