The UK government has said it will continue to process visa applications for Nigerians who wish to study, work or live permanently in the UK in spite of the travel ban placed on Nigeria.
The European country had announced the suspension of the processing of visitor visa applications from Nigeria and countries placed on the travel ban.
This came after it banned banned all flights from Nigeria following 3 cases of the Omicron Varian of Covid-19 in the country.
However, on Monday, the UK government published a new update on the processing of visa applications for countries placed the travel ban.
In the new update, student, work and residency visa applications will be processed regardless of the restrictions.
Excerpts of the update:
“To support the UK Government’s aim to protect public health from COVID 19 and associated variants of concern (VOC), UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have paused making decisions on visitor visa applications in all red list countries until restrictions are lifted.
“Applications in other categories (student/work/live permanently in the UK) will continue to be processed.
“If you have been in a red list country in the 10 days before you arrive in England, once you arrive, you must quarantine for 10 full days in a managed quarantine hotel (the day you arrive in England is day 0).
The UK Visas and Immigration also advised travellers wishing to collect their passport after they have made a visitor visa application before the travel restriction to contact the Visa Application Centre (VAC).
The update added that, “If you had already made a visit visa application before the travel restrictions in Nigeria started and wish to get your passport back whilst your visit visa application is paused, you can contact the VAC where you submitted your application and request return of your passport.
“Once you have contacted the VAC to request the return of your passport, you will need to either collect in person for free at the VAC or request a courier service for your passport to be returned to you.
“If you have yet to apply for a visit visa from a red list country and decide to go ahead with your application, when you attend your Visa Application Centre (VAC) appointment you can either: submit your passport with your application or pay the ‘Keep my passport’ fee to retain your passport whilst the pause is in place.
“If you decide to submit your passport when making your application and later require it back, you will need to pay the ‘keep my passport’ fee and either collect in person at the VAC or pay a courier service for your passport to be returned to you. “
Read also:
Covid-19 Omicron: UK Puts Nigeria on Red List
Omicron Travel Ban: UK Promises To Process Student, Work Visa Application For Nigerians