Live lobby bashes visa rules.

Harvey Goldsmith is spearheading a campaign to persuade the government to reconsider changes to the work permit system, which he says could lead to a seven-fold increase in visa costs for overseas bands wishing to tour the UK.

The changes would require each member of the touring party to apply and pay for individual visas, rather than each group being able to enter the UK with a single work permit as they currently do. Fears have also been raised that the cost of an individual application may be higher than the current cost of a permit for an entire group.

The concern in the live industry and beyond is that many international acts will be deterred from visiting the UK if the changes are implemented, as it would become too costly and time consuming.

"If they pass through, it will make it nigh on impossible for foreign acts to come into our country," says Goldsmith. "There's no reason for it and it needs a serious effort from record company heads and the entire industry to get the government to listen."

Changes to the permit system have been on the agenda for some time, but it is only now, following a consultation process which ended on December 21, that the industry is beginning to get a clear idea of the costs involved.

A work permit for a band currently costs #153, but Steve Richard, managing director of work permit specialist T&S Immigration, says the Government has hinted the ...