Looks like even celebrities aren’t allowed to bend immigration rules. Martha Stewart, who was due in the UK later this week for business meetings and other codgery, was just denied a visa by the United Kingdom because of her criminal record.
As you probably recall, the American business woman recently spent five months locked up for shady stock and business dealings. UK immigration law specifically prohibits visitors with records of these sorts, and took no exception to Ms. Stewart’s application.
Naturally, the suits and politicians are a little bit disgusted on the UK side, mostly because Stewart provides so much business among our countries and because of the nature of her crimes. But border security isn’t budging, saying:
“We continue to oppose the entry to the UK of individuals where we believe their presence in the United Kingdom is not conducive to the public good or where they have been found guilty of serious criminal offences abroad.”
I suppose until Ms. Stewart is given a golden pass by the higher ups, she’ll have to invest in a webcam.