UK resumes priority visa applications for study routes in Nigeria

Here’s some welcome news for Nigerian students: UK student visa application processing in Nigeria has resumed. 

A statement posted by UK in Nigeria on Twitter notes that UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) have resumed Priority Visa applications for work and study routes. “From January 24, TLS will resume offering some Priority Visa (PV) Services in our Nigerian visa application centres. 

“PV services will only be available to customers applying at VACs in Nigeria in work and study routes. These services will only be available via the TLS website and can be purchased when making a VAC appointment.”

They add: “Due to the continued impact of COVID-19 on courier routes, UKVI are only able resume offering PV services in Nigeria at this time.

“UKVI will not resume offering a Super Priority Visa (SPV) service for the time being. We will keep priority visas under review and hope to be able to reinstate further services in due course.”

Those making a UK student visa application can expect delays. Due to extremely high demand, standard UK visitor visas are currently taking longer than usual to be processed by UKVI.

📢UK VISA APPLICATION UPDATE:

UKVI have resumed Priority Visa applications for work and study routes.

Please read the statement below for full details.👇

For more information, visit https://t.co/AcMWTnfwWC or contact our VAC offices via https://t.co/OILn70hmq7. pic.twitter.com/YgFGKq4kT7

— UK in Nigeria🇬🇧🇳🇬 (@UKinNigeria) January 26, 2022

UK student visa application previously suspended in Nigeria

While UK student visa application processing in Nigeria has resumed, the British High Commission on Dec. 6, 2021 had suspended visa applications from red list countries, including Nigeria.

The UK had also temporarily suspended its flexi appointment or walk-in service for UK visa applicants in Nigeria. Citing a statement released on Jan. 10, 2022, The Cable reported that the UK’s decision to suspend the service is for the safety of customers.

“To protect the safety of customers waiting outside of our Visa Application Centres, the Flexi Appointment (walk-in) service has been temporarily suspended. You will not be able to book one of these appointments online or by turning up at the VAC,” the statement was quoted saying.

In a separate report, UK government data shows that Nigerian nationals saw the largest relative increase in Sponsored Study grants compared with the year ending September 2019, increasing by 28,923 (+368%) to a record high of 36,783, making them the third largest nationality group this year.

“In the year ending September 2021, two nationalities accounted for the majority (63%) of Sponsored study dependants: India (33%) and Nigeria (31%),” added the report.

International students and travellers arriving in England from abroad will no longer have to take COVID-19 tests if they are fully vaccinated.

The UK government announced that from Feb. 11, 2022, all testing requirements will be removed for eligible fully vaccinated arrivals, with only a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) now required.

The PLF will also be simplified, confirming their vaccination status, travel history and contact details, and people will have an extra day to fill it out before travelling.