Strictly Come Dancing star in UK Visa drama

A Strictly Come Dancing star has had to return to the US after being threatened with deportation due to UK Visa issues.

British Embassy

The Russian-born dancer Artem Chigvintsev was to be one of the three new professionals joining the next series of the BBC show, but he was told he cannot stay in the country on his current UK Visa due to the long hours spent working in two different jobs.

The professional dancer already works 38 hours a week on the West End Musical, Burn The Floor.

The UK Border Agency have told the BBC once the visa is issued Artem's sponsor will be the BBC and he can only work 20 hours a week on Burn The Floor, or he risks being deported.

However, Burn The Floor producers turned down a request from the BBC to release the dancer from the production, so Chigvintsev had to return home to the US to re-apply for a work visa.

The UK Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with their UK Visa applications to the British Embassy.