Visa for Freelance Photographer/ Photojournalist

[ar1988]

Hi, I’m a Bangladeshi born freelance photographer/photojournalist based in Boston on O1 visa working as a freelance Photojournalist. I want to come and shoot during Download festival and Bloodstock festival next year. I freelance mostly for Redux Pictures(USA) and Nur Photo Agency(Italy).

I was wondering what would be the appropriate visa category for me and can I apply from USA or do I have to apply from Bangladesh?

Thanks

[The Station Agent]

You can apply in your country of residence (USA), assuming your O1 is still valid.

I would think a business visit visa would cover it if you're covering the event for an overseas news agency.

[sah10406]

I was wondering what would be the appropriate visa category for me

There isn't one. The nearest would be this one, but it needs to be sponsored by a Tier 5 license holding employer:

https://www.gov.uk/tier-5-temporary-wor ... rting-visa

[The Station Agent]

Taking photos of an event for an overseas news agency would not warrant a Tier 5 creative and sporting visa, and to be quite honest I doubt you need that. The visitor rules allow for journalists and cameramen to cover UK events for overseas publications, as long as they're short term. I suggest you provide a supporting letter from one of the agencies to support your application. The letter should mention the event(s) you are covering (explaining - don't assume the visa officers know what these festivals are), that you are based in the US and will return there, and that you are paid in the US by this company for covering this event / these events.

I believe it can be covered as business, not counted as UK work.

[sah10406]

To do it as a Standard Visitor, the Entry Clearance Officer would need to be satisfied that it comes under one of the provisions of Appendix 3 "Permitted activities for all visitors":

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration ... itor-rules

it doesn't specifically cover freelance agency photographers by name, but the sub-heading "Business - overseas roles requiring specific activities in the UK" includes something similar

(e) a journalist, correspondent, producer or cameraman gathering information for an overseas publication, programme or film