Following the removal of Nigerian and ten other African countries from its red list due to the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the United Kingdom (UK) has announced the resumption of visitor visa processing.
The British High Commission had halted tourist visa applications from Nigerian after the country was placed on the no-fly list. However, in a recent statement, the Commission confirmed that UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) would resume processing visitor visa applications for all nations formerly on the red list.
Processing Delays and Guidelines for Applicants
Despite the lifting of restrictions, UKVI warns of delays due to high global demand for standard UK visitor visas. Applicants are urged to be patient as UKVI endeavors to process applications promptly.
Applicants are advised not to book travel until a decision is made on their visa application. Urgent travel needs for compassionate reasons still require visa applications, with clear explanations provided in the application form.
Service Suspensions and Advice for Students
Priority Visa (PV) and Super Priority Visa (SPV) services remain temporarily suspended across all visa routes and countries. UKVI aims to assess applications in date order to manage increased demand equitably.
Students affected by the suspension of PV services are encouraged to explore options with their course providers, including COVID-19 concessions or adjusted start dates. However, early application submission is recommended, considering the uncertainty surrounding the resumption of PV and SPV services.
Source: thisdaylive.com
