The UK High Commission in Nigeria has announced a temporary suspension of priority visas for students, work and family applications with focus now being placed on applications made under the Ukraine Family Scheme.
The new development followed the UK visa and immigration launch of the Ukraine Family Scheme in response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
This disclosure is contained in a statement titled, ‘Temporary Suspension of Priority Visas for Student, Work and Family Applications’, issued on Tuesday by the UK High Commission in Nigeria and can be seen on its website.
The high commission in its statement said that customers with standard applications in study, work and family routes may experience some delays in the processing of their application.
What the UK High Commission is saying
The high commission noted that Nigerians, whose passports were ready for collection, would be contacted by the Visa Application Centre.
The statement from the high commission reads,
- “UK Visas and Immigration is currently prioritising applications made under the Ukraine Family Scheme, following its launch and in response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the invasion of Ukraine.
- “As a result, UKVI has temporarily suspended priority and super-priority services for new study, work, and family applications. Customers with standard applications in study, work, and family routes may experience some delays in the processing of their application.
- “We are still currently unable to offer PV for visitor applications in Nigeria. Standard visitor visa applications are currently taking an average of six weeks to process.
- “Applicants will be contacted by the Visa Application Centre (VAC) when their passport is ready for collection. They should not attend the VAC until they have been invited to do so.
- “Where there are extremely compassionate or compelling circumstances (for example, a medical emergency), UKVI may consider expediting specific cases. However, the bar for this is high and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. If a request is exceptionally urgent, applicants can contact UK Visas and Immigration for help. Please note that this is a chargeable service for overseas customers.
- “We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
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This is a concerning development for many individuals and families in Nigeria. The suspension of student, work, and family visa applications due to the Ukraine war seems disproportionate and could have far-reaching implications on education and employment opportunities for those affected. I hope this situation is assessed carefully, taking into account the hardships faced by many who rely on these visas for better prospects.