I serve as manager to Allison Crowe - and, indeed, the new rules have come as a shock to all those with whom we've been working in the UK for years. Allison is very much a grassroots artist, and, as it turns out, the small jazz venues, community halls, and concert presenters with whom we've developed relationships report that they were neither consulted nor informed of the requirement to register with the Home Office and become a certified "Sponsor".

And, now that they have learned of the new rules, they advise they will not choose to participate - which, in effect, wipes out a tier of valuable, independent, venues for international artists.

On the part of the front-line officials, the UK border police, there is clearly misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the rules that came into force on November 27, 2009. We were provided by them with misinformation (eg. the retina scan, fingerprinting, movement monitoring, bank account scrutinizing etc. measure of this new legislation are supposed to be reserved for people not from Canada or Australis - we are classified as "non-visa nationals"; that becomes an academic consideration when the concert venues are not legal "Sponsors" in any event).

The unreasonable and heavy-handed treatment we experienced, has also been the case recently with a Canadian university professor, a journalist with the Globe and Mail newspaper, and more.

There's plenty more detail that evidences the mishandling by UK Immigration of these innocent circumstances.

What we're dealing with is wonky, discriminatory, legislation - and instances of worse enforcement.

The following linked petition, and the comments of many signatories, shines more light on the issues:
Visiting Artists and Academics Petition