The British High Commission has suspended visitor visa applications from all red list countries, including Nigeria.
This was announced in a statement hours after UK added Nigeria to its travel red list as a result of concerns over the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
The suspension of processing visitor visa applications will only be lifted when the travel ban placed on the country is removed.
Part of the statement read:
“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).”
The commission noted that application of those who applied for a visit visa in a red list country and met the UK Immigration Rules will be paused.
It said:
“You will not receive a decision on your visit visa application whilst red list travel restrictions remain in place.
“You will not be able to request a refund of your visa fee once you have given your biometrics at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).”
Also those who possess a valid visit visa and are intending to travel to England as a visitor from a red list country will not be allowed to enter.
This development comes as British Airways cancelled its flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, to Heathrow, London, in the United Kingdom.
Citing operational reasons, the airline also did not operate its inbound flight from London to Lagos.
Sources at the airport linked it to the implementation of the travel ban imposed on countries considered red flags to the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Many passengers who turned up at the airport for check-in procedures were disappointed with counters for British Airways scanty.
Some workers who were at the counters informed the distraught passengers that the flight into the United Kingdom was rescheduled for early hours of Monday.
