NaijaWire

Immigration - UK Embassy lifts visa application restriction

Abuja - The British High Commission in Nigeria has has lifted the restrictions on its visa service with respect from Tuesday July 22, 2008.

The High Commission’s office in Abuja, through a press statement signed by Oladele Oladokun of its Public Affairs section said on Wednesday, that the resort to implementation of the restrictions on its service was due to unavoidable technical problems at the Deputy High Commission in Lagos.

The release stated that all categories of visa applications can now be submitted, adding that, the British High Commission had reiterated that its customer’s should know that it was still being forced to run a limited service for first time travelers to the UK.

Accordingly, it said that those who had not traveled to the UK previously should book an appointment to submit their application at its Commercial Partner’s offices (VFS) in Abuja, Lagos, Ikeja or Ibadan respectively.

It will be recalled that the British High Commison had posted on its website the suspension of full visa services from July 10, 2008. According to the notice…

“The British High Commission in Abuja and British Deputy High Commission in Lagos regrets to inform its customers that it is unable to offer a full visa service in Nigeria until further notice due to an unavoidable technical failure. From 10 July 2008, the Visa Application Centers in Abuja, Ibadan, Ikeja and Victoria Island will only accept applications from the following categories for onward submission to the Visa Section at the British High Commission in Abuja:

• Urgent and compassionate cases (e.g. medical treatment);
• Returning residents;
• Fast Track applicants (not including those applying under the auspices of the Business Express Programme)
• Settlement for Children or urgent/compassionate settlement cases;
• EEA Family Permits;
• Diplomats and Officials;
• DATV and transit visitors;
• Long Term Students

The reduction in our service is only a temporary measure and we hope to restore a full service to our Nigerian customers as soon as possible. The British High Commission apologises for any inconvenience caused by this disruption and will let its customers know as soon as full service is resumed.

Customers who have already submitted their applications before 09 July 2008 to the Visa Application Centres in Abuja and Ibadan should not be effected by this disruption.

Also, the passport operation in Lagos will be closed until further notice. Emergency passports will be available to British nationals who already hold a British passport and can confirm their British nationality. “

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