'UK Didn't Suspend Student, Work, Family Visas For Nigerian Applicants'

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

The United Kingdom has refuted claims that it suspended students, work and family visas for Nigerian applicants.

This is coming on the heels of a statement issued by the British High Commission in Nigeria yesterday, announcing a temporary suspension of priority visas for student, work and family applications.

However, the Press & Public Affairs Officer, Comms Lead, Prosperity and Economic Development, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, British High Commission in Nigeria, Ndidiamaka Eze debunked the claims through a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja today.

Accordingly to her, "We are aware of the reports circulating in the Nigerian media and online that the UK has suspended student, work and family visas for Nigerian applicants, this is not true."

She said that its possible for Nigerians to apply for any category of UK visa in the usual way on gov.uk and via their Visa Applications Centres (VAC) in Nigeria.

Eze stated that the VACs remains open and that customers are welcome to apply for a standard visa of any category in the usual manner, inclusive of the istudent, family, work and visit visas.

The statement added, "However, due to a reprioritisation of resources in response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the invasion of Ukraine, the UK has temporarily suspended its priority visa service. This temporary suspension only applies to the UKVI’s expedited, added-value ‘Priority’ and ‘Super Priority’ visa services. This suspension is to enable the UKs global visa operation to prioritise applications for the new Ukraine Family Scheme."

She stated that the decision to suspend priority visa services was clearly spelt out on UKVI’s guidance page, which revealed the latest decision waiting time for visa applicants outside the UK on : www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-decision-waiting-times-applications-outside-the-uk.

Eze however apologised for any inconvenience the development must have caused the public, adding that the high commission will issue an updated statement as soon as the ‘Priority’ and ‘Super Priority’ visa services resumes.

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