UK warns: Student, work visas restrictions on Nigerians likely

The British Government has said it may tighten its student and work visa conditions to address what it called an abuse of the policy by Nigerians in the country.

The government mulls this measure amidst worries over the number of relatives Nigerian immigrants bring to the United Kingdom (UK) after securing student and work visas.

According to the UK Home Office data, the number of relatives brought in by Nigerians is almost at par with the percentage of student and work visas issued to the African country.

In comparison with other countries, like China, India, Pakistan and United States, it was discovered that citizens of these countries bring in fewer number.

India is the only country that is close to Nigeria, the UK Home Office research showed. Nigerians secured about 34,000 study visas to the UK and they eventually brought 31,898 dependents.

The same applied with work visas, as 8,576 relatives went to the UK to join 8,972 Nigerian immigrants that were issued work visas, the research by the UK government showed.

This high number doesn’t sit well with the UK government, considering 114,837 Chinese immigrants granted UK student visas in 2021 brought in only 401 relatives.

For the Indian immigrants, about 24,916 dependents went to the UK to join around 93,049 Indian students that secured student visas.

It was gathered that 40 per cent of relatives that accompanied foreign students between June last year and June 2022 were Nigerians.

This is despite seven per cent of all foreign students during the period in review being Nigerians.

As a result, the UK government is considering tightening visa rules, according to UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

Also, Prime Business Africa had reported common UK visa rejection reasons, after Bangladesh, Ghana and Algeria, amongst others, faced visa rejections up to 40 per cent. Nation