Australian Baroque string specialist Shannon Luk has been forced to leave the country and his position in Schott Music’s London office after the Home Office rejected his application for a Tier 2 work permit.
Luk applied for this Tier 2 work permit as an experienced worker with sponsorship by a company currently employing him. However, the minimum salary for Tier 2 work permits surpasses his earnings, standing at £30,000 as of April 2017.
Luk has suggested that this salary rule disproportionately effects those working in typically low paying sectors, such as the arts and creative sectors.
“It is a frustrating situation to be in, as both myself and Schott both strongly wish to continue working together,” Luk stated in a recent announcement.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you during 2017 and it has been a real highlight of my career thus far,” he added. “The music world is small and I aim to find a similar role in Europe, Australia or further abroad.”
Shannon Luk originally studied at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and completed an advanced performance certificate in the viola da gamba in 2014. He is also a celebrated specialist in Baroque violin and viola.
He has been working as a Marketing Executive at the German sheet music publishing company but could be asked to leave in February after his application was rejected.