By Gold Ogine, JKNewsMedia Reporter
RISING VISA rejection rates and costly fees continue to define the experience of Nigerian applicants to the United Kingdom (UK).
Over ₦68 billion was generated by the British government from processing 225,000 visa applications from Nigerians between June 2023 and June 2024, despite increasing denial rates as revealed at the launch of Africa’s largest UK visa application centre in Lagos.
Marc Owen, Director of Visa, Status, and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration, highlighted the processing figures.
“In the year to June 2024, we processed more than 225,000 UK visas for Nigerian nationals across all categories,” he stated, emphasising improved accessibility and efficiency in visa services.
Visa fees vary based on type, with short-term visas costing $150 (₦255,000 at ₦1,700/$1), while longer-term visas valid for two years cost $565 (₦960,500).
Fees for 5- and 10-year visas rise to $1,009 (₦1,715,300) and $1,260 (₦2,142,000), respectively.
Using conservative estimates of $150 and $262 (₦445,400) for half of the applications each, the revenue exceeds ₦68 billion.
Despite these financial gains, rejection rates have surged. In Q4 2023, one in eight applications from Nigerians were denied, a sharp increase from one in 31 the previous year.
Nigeria now ranks among the top five countries for visa rejections, with tightened UK immigration policies contributing to the trend.
Changes to dependent visa rules and restrictions on post-study work visas under the graduate route have compounded challenges for Nigerians seeking entry into the UK.
Many Nigerians are exploring alternative destinations, with the United States emerging as a preferred option.
In the 2023/2024 academic year, Nigeria became the seventh-largest source of international students globally, enrolling over 20,000 in US institutions.
This marks a 13.5 per cent rise compared to the previous year, making Nigeria Africa’s largest source of students in the US.
The high visa rejections and rising costs are shifting the aspirations of many Nigerians away from the UK, underlining the complexities of immigration policies and the search for better opportunities abroad.
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