Classical Indian musician Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has been granted a visa to perform in the UK a week after his application was rejected by the Home Office due to “incomplete information”.
Khan is set to play at the Royal Festival Hall next month. The internationally recognised sarod (lute) player posted a message on Facebook revealing the news.
“My UK work visa has finally been granted. I would like to thank everyone for their absolute love extended to me last week over this was humbling to read all the messages of support truly means a lot,” he posted.
The Home Office had earlier said visas were declined due to incomplete information.
Keith Vaz MP who assisted Khan during his second visa application said: “I am delighted that Amjad Ali Khan’s visa has now been granted. Britain adores the music of Amjad Ali Khan and I am so pleased we will be able to hear it after all.
“I want to thank the staff at the British High Commission in New Delhi for dealing with this issue promptly once the technical problem had been identified.
“We need a long hard look at the immigration rules so that they are seen to encourage Indian people to visit and work in the UK. This is especially so after Brexit. The UK must always be seen to be open to the rest of the world.”
Khan thanked the Labour MP in his social media post for taking a “keen personal interest in the matter” and added: “I look forward to performing in London on the 18th of September at the
Royal Festival Hall.”
Kulsuma Aktergetty images
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