Sponsors now have greater record-keeping responsibilities

The UKBA has recently slipped in a change to the record-keeping rules for sponsors (Appendix D). They didn't consult anyone on this and it will massively impact the entertainment sector in particular. The UKBA knows that this sector already has huge problems in getting all the copies of entry stamps for bands they have sponsored under Tier 5 to tour the UK.

It was previously the case that these copies had to be kept for the duration of sponsorship only. As sponsorship for touring bands would generally just be for a few days or weeks it meant the sponsor did not have to keep these documents for long. It also meant that if the sponsor got a visit they would only have to show paperwork for any acts they had in the UK at the time. So, if the sponsor didn't have all the stamps for a band that came over a few months ago it didn't matter because the UKBA could no longer demand to see the stamps once the band had left. This has now been revoked.

There was an exemption on keeping these stamps where a band or entertainer was only working here for a day or less. That has been removed as well.

Sponsors now have to have all entry stamps and contact details to track every member of a band's travel party EVERY SINGLE DAY THEY ARE IN THE U.K. - AND THEY HAVE TO KEEP THESE DOCUMENTS UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AT THE SPONSOR'S PREMISES DURING A U.K.B.A. VISIT. That could mean keeping them for years, even if the band was only here for a few hours!

This means far more paperwork and means the music industry in particular will have even more of a struggle on its hands trying to keep track of the documents for people it does not even employ. The music sector currently cannot fully comply with the old rules, but tightening those rules will really stick the boot in.