By Uche Mbah
The United Kingdom has withdrawn an earlier statement, effective December 6, suspending visa applications from all red list countries, which include Nigeria.
In a statement, Wednesday, the British High Commission said consequently UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) “will lift the pause on processing visitor visas in all countries previously on the red list,”
“From 4:00 am on 15th December, all countries currently on the red list will be removed. In line with the lifting of red list restrictions, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) will lift the pause on processing visitor visas in all countries previously on the red list,” the statement reads.
In their December 6, 2021 circular, the High Commission said they are placing the ban “To support the UK Government’s aim to protect public health from COVID-19 and associated variants of concern (VOC), UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) will pause making decisions on visitor visa applications in all red list countries, including Nigeria until travel restrictions are lifted.
“Visit visas cover travel to the UK for tourism, visiting family and friends, undertaking short-term business activities (for example, attending meetings), undertaking short-term studies (under 6 months), taking part in research or exchange programmes as an academic, medical reasons (for example, receiving private medical treatment).
“If you apply for a visit visa in a red list country and you meet the UK Immigration Rules, your application will be paused. You will not receive a decision on your visit visa application whilst red list travel restrictions remain in place.”
It is believed that with the discovery that the new Covid 19 variant, Omicron, is very mild, the British Government had to soft pedal on their planned lock down and travel restrictions.
Omicron, though having increased infection rate, has recorded no deaths globally.
