Russia-Ukraine War: UK Temporarily Suspends Priority Services For Work, Study, Family Visa Applications In Nigeria
United Kingdom Embassy in Nigeria has on Tuesday, March 15 announced a temporary suspension of priority services for study, work, and family visa applications.
This comes as priority is now being placed on applications made under newly created Ukraine Family Scheme.
The Embassy announced this in a statement shared on Tuesday on their official social media handles, saying the Ukraine Family Scheme was launched in response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the invasion of Ukraine.
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Since the invasion began on February 24, UK has implemented several policies to show solidarity for Ukraine.
On March 4, it launched the Ukraine Family Scheme allowing immediate and extended family members of British nationals and people settled in the UK to come to the country.
Those granted under the scheme will be granted a visa that lasts three years, giving them certainty and ensuring their future in the country. The scheme is free and does not include any salary or language requirements.
With the latest development, UK Embassy in Nigeria further noted that Nigerians, whose passports were ready for collection, would be contacted by the Visa Application Centre.
The statement partly reads;
UK Visas and Immigration is currently prioritising applications made under the Ukraine Family Scheme, following its launch and in response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the invasion of Ukraine. As a result, UKVI has temporarily suspended priority and super-priority services for new study, work, and family applications. Customers with standard applications in study, work, and family routes may experience some delays in the processing of their application. We are still currently unable to offer PV for visitor applications in Nigeria. Standard visitor visa applications are currently taking an average of six weeks to process
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The Embassy stressed;
Applicants will be contacted by the Visa Application Centre (VAC) when their passport is ready for collection. They should not attend the VAC until they have been invited to do so. Where there are extremely compassionate or compelling circumstances (for example, a medical emergency), UKVI may consider expediting specific cases.
Read Also: Russia, Ukraine Agree To Set Up Civilian Evacuation Corridors As Fighting Rages
It added;
However, the bar for this is high and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. If a request is exceptionally urgent, applicants can contact UK Visas and Immigration for help. Please note that this is a chargeable service for overseas customers. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
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Amid the Russian-Ukrainian war, the British government also launched its Homes for Ukraine site for those wanting to host a refugee, with over 43,000 signing up in the first five hours.
Housing and Communities Secretary, Michael Gove said the UK had a history of “supporting the most vulnerable during their darkest hours.”
Under the scheme, Mr Gove said there would be no limit to how many Ukrainians could enter the UK. Each household housing a refugee will be offered £350 a month, tax-free.
The UK government also announced that it would be providing cancer treatment for 21 seriously ill Ukrainian children.
