UK Suspends Visa Issuance To Nigerians
The United Kingdom government has suspends processing of visitor visa from Nigeria and other red list countries.
The British High Commission in a statement on Sunday said it has paused processing visitor visa from red list countries.
The decision is coming on the heels of inclusion of Nigeria among its travel red list owing to fears over Omicron, the new Covid-19 variant.
“To support the UK Government’s aim to protect public health from COVID-19 and associated variants of concern (VOC), UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) will pause making decisions on visitor visa applications in all red list countries, including Nigeria, until travel restrictions are lifted,” the statement reads.
According to the statement, Visit visas cover travel to the UK for
Tourism, Visiting family and friends, those undertaking short-term business activities (for example, attending meetings), those undertaking short-term studies (under 6 months), taking part in research or exchange programmes as an academic and medical reasons (for example, receiving private medical treatment).
The statement added, “If you apply for a visit visa in a red list country and you meet the UK Immigration Rules, your application will be paused. You will not receive a decision on your visit visa application whilst red
list travel restrictions remain in place. You will not be able to request a refund of your visa fee once you have given your biometrics at aVisa Application Centre (VAC)
“If you already hold a valid visit visa and are intending to travel to England as a visitor from a red
list country, you will not be allowed to enter. Separate guidance is available for travellers entering
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.”
The UK however, said, “Only where there are compelling and compassionate circumstances will visit visas be issued or
entry permitted to visit England froma red list country whilst travel restrictions remain in place.
There are only very limited exemptions to travel and entry requirements for critical workers and medical and compassionate cases.”
The UK authorities had earlier today announced Nigeria and other African countries including; South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe on its travel red list.
The government said the development comes following 21 cases of Omicron reported in England which are linked to travel from Nigeria.
“From 4am on Monday 6 December, UK and Irish citizens and residents arriving from Nigeria must isolate in a Government-approved managed quarantine facility for 10 days, and receive two negative PCR tests, as further precautionary action is taken against the Omicron variant. Currently, the majority of cases in the UK have clear links to overseas travel from South Africa and Nigeria, and over the past week 21 reported Omicron cases in England originating from Nigeria.
“These are temporary measures that have been introduced to prevent further Omicron cases from entering the UK, and will be examined at the three-week review point on 20 December,” the government stated.
Speaking about the decision British High Commissioner to Nigeria Catriona Laing said:
“I know that this decision will have a significant impact on people in both our countries, particularly at this time of year. This decision is a precautionary measure to protect public health in the UK, whilst we try to understand this new variant.
“We continue to work very closely with the Nigerian authorities in tackling the pandemic and commend their ongoing work.”
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