Three Egyptian curators who were invited to present research at an international museum conference in Swansea have had their visa applications rejected by the Home Office.Despite having been given grants from Icom to cover their flights, accommodation and living expenses while in the UK, their applications were rejected on the grounds that their income was too low. This was despite the fact that copies of their grant letters were included in the applications.
This raises alarming questions, as many in the Heritage Sector do not receive the minimum wage requirement for visas. If this requirement is rigidly applied, international collaboration – vital to the sector’s work– will become increasingly difficult, especially if freedom of movement is not guaranteed post-Brexit and EU academics.