Nigerians queue up as embassy resumes priority visa process
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nigerians in their thousands have escalated voting with their feet, heading abroad to escape Muhammadu Buhari’s incompetence, laziness, callousness, and nepotism which combine to reduce millions to paupers in their own country.
They have been thronging the United Kingdom visa application centres in Lagos daily since the British High Commission resumed Priority Visa (PV) process on 24 January.
Both the Lekki Phase I and Mainland offices of VFS Global in Lagos experience long queues daily of those waiting to complete their applications.
Also, Nigerians who qualify for Drop Box service which allows them to renew their United States visas without attending an interview can now do so at the US Consulate on Victoria Island, Lagos.
The UK government last week announced the resumption of PV process in all Nigerian visa application centres following the removal of Nigeria and other African countries from the UK’s Omicron red list last December.
London later scrapped the red list altogether on 6 December.
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UK Priority Visa process
The British embassy said PV process resumed on 24 January but only priority visa services will be issued for the time being due to the continued impact of the pandemic on courier routes, per Nairametrics reporting.
The notice says:
- Prior to making your visa application to the UK, you should first check if you need a visa, and which one you are to apply for, at http://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
- PV services are only available to persons applying for work and study routes at the Visa Application Centres in Nigeria.
- These services will be available on the TLS website, and purchases can be made during Visa Application Centre (VAC) appointments.
- Eligible applicants for work or study routes are to click this link for more information on how to apply: http://www.gov.uk/apply-to-come-to-the-uk
- PV is not a visa type but a service offered that allows workers wanting to switch, extend or change employers to obtain a new visa in 10 working days of the application being submitted.
- UK Visa and Immigration will not resume offering a Super Priority Visa (SPV) service yet.
The work and study visa application processing in Nigeria began on 24 January 2022 and eligible candidates are enjoined to visit UK visa application centres in Nigeria.