Just to be clear, folks — I’m not saying that England has banned a graphic novel. No, it’s a lot worse — the actual graphic novelist himself is no longer allowed in the county.
London resident Nikil Singh, author of Salem Brownstone: All Along the Watchtowers, has been held in his birth country South Africa for the past five months, due to new immigration rules.
According to Vicious Imagery, Singh’s problem stems from the fact that he doesn’t hold a degree, making him “underqualified” for a Tier One Highly Skilled Visa — despite the fact that, as a former British journalist, he clearly knows English, and the fact that his book has sold out its previous runs. Singh has lost his home in London due to his effective deportation, and is still fighting.
“The refusal of Nikhil Singh’s application for a Highly Skilled Worker Visa … is short-sighted and prejudiced towards the graphic novel medium, and plainly ignores his exceptional merits,” said the director of Comica Festival, Paul Gravett. “One look at the extraordinary craftsmanship of his contributions to the Salem Brownstone graphic novel would convince anyone Nikhil is not only ‘highly skilled’ but a visionary artist of international standing.”
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:11 pm
The old British classism alive and well, I see.
I mean, by those standards, I qualify for a “Highly Skilled Worker” Visa. My degree is in English. Something tells me the British aren’t exactly clamoring to have their children taught their own language and literature by an American.
November 4th, 2009 at 10:41 am
With a degree in English, I’d hope you’d understand the difference between “necessary” and “sufficient”. A degree may be necessary, as might ability in English. But they are not, on their own, sufficient for a working visa. As you note, the UK already has quite a few people qualified to speak English.