Studying abroad and writing

It sounds impossible that you would get in trouble for that.

I too doubt that you would have much issue. You're a contracted worker getting paid salary. They can't clock how much you're actually working per week.

Also you would not be working for a UK employer, which is what I think they would be concerned about.

It's worth looking into the rights of 'artists' in the UK: I recall they have special visa allowances on top of existing ones that at least let you stay in the country when no other suitable visa is available to you.

That aside, if no money enters your UK bank account and whoever is paying you gets bills with your home-country's address on it, there shouldn't be a problem as how would the government know about it? I'm not sure how legal this is though...

Alexandra Little:
in all my research on getting a student visa it says that I may only work part time (unless during holidays) and I cannot be self-employed.

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I'm neither an employment nor an immigration lawyer but my understanding is that this only applies if you're working part-time in the UK for a UK employer and the intention is to stop you from setting up a company/legal structure in the UK and employing yourself to try and get around immigration law.

Alexandra Little:
I've never contemplated how having a publishing contract would define my work status. So (presuming with all hope that I have a publishing contract when I go to the UK in a couple years) what does an author qualify as? I take it I wouldn't be self-employed because I would be contracted (or would I be self-employed?) but I hardly have an hourly wage where I can say "I work under 20 hours--I'm part time." If anyone knows anything or can point me to a specific place I would be extremely grateful.

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A publishing contract is a contract for services and not a contract of service. There's a distinction in UK law that's long and boring to go into, but under the former you're not regarded as an employee, whereas you are regarded as an employee under the latter.

Presumably you're looking to be picked up by a US/Canadian publisher or have already been picked up by one (sorry - not sure where you're based at the moment or your publishing status), in which case it's not going to be an issue at all - UK immigration doesn't care about your work status/financial status back home (and in many ways the fact that you have money in your country of origin will reassure them that you're not planning to stay here and scrounge from our welfare system (their attitude, not mine!).

If you're looking to be picked up by a UK publisher/have been picked up by a UK publisher, then it's still going to be a contract for service with funds (presumably) going to your US/Canadian bank account, in which case it's not a problem either.

So basically, I wouldn't worry about it at this stage. When you get to the UK, your university should have an international students officer or office where you can raise any other concerns you might have (universities here like international students because you bring in a lot of money).

MM