The Reason Why Our Govt Banned Dependents Visa For Nigerian Students – British High Comm Explains
admin
3 min read
The Reason Why Our Govt Banned Dependents Visa For Nigerian Students – British High Comm Explains.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has provided an explanation as to why the UK government has implemented a ban on international students bringing their family members with them, effective from 2024.
Starting from January 2024, Nigerian and other foreign nationals studying in the United Kingdom will no longer have the option to bring their family members along with them. This new policy has been introduced by the British Government in order to address concerns related to migration and the strain it places on the country’s housing infrastructure.
Montgomery emphasized that the primary purpose of this decision is to alleviate pressure on the existing housing resources and to regulate the inflow of migrants. The move aims to ensure that available housing and services can adequately meet the needs of the current student population.
“Many more students are trying to bring their dependents with them…but it’s not always possible to find the housing and services to meet all the needs of our existing student population…we’ll have to manage our migration in and out of the UK,” Montgomery revealed shortly after he emerged from a closed-door meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja
“And second, reasonable people would accept that we have to manage our visitor numbers and we’ll have to manage our migration in and out of the UK just as the Nigerian government would do,” he added.
“Last year (2022), for example, the UK granted three million new visas, of which 325,000 were to Nigerians.
“Nigerian visitors constitute over 10 percent of the people coming to London and the UK.
“It’s a fantastic success story for our universities. And we are really delighted that so many Nigerians are coming to the UK,” he said.
This development follows the recent submission of the British diplomat’s letter of Credence to former President Muhammadu Buhari on May 18. It is important to note that the UK Home Office had already announced that international students, including Nigerians, would not be allowed to switch from a student visa to a work visa until they have completed their studies.
However, this decision has sparked mixed reactions from international students, educational institutions, and certain British lawmakers. Critics argue that such regulations could exacerbate labor shortages in crucial sectors like healthcare, and potentially harm the country’s reputation as a leading destination for international talent.
In response to these concerns, the British High Commissioner addressed the matter, stating, “I think there are two issues here. The first is, it’s not always possible to find the housing and services to meet all the needs of all our existing student population.”
While the decision to ban dependents’ visas for Nigerian students and other international students has been met with varying opinions, it is clear that the British government is taking measures to address the challenges posed by migration and the strain it places on housing infrastructure. The long-term implications of this policy change remain to be seen, as stakeholders continue to debate its potential impact on labor shortages and the UK’s global standing as an attractive destination for international talent.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT NIGERIA? CLICK HERE TO JOIN ESSENCE FORUM AND SHARE YOUR TOPICS WITH OVER 4000 MEMBERS.
WATCH MORE NEWS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE
The Reason Why Our Govt Banned Dependents Visa For Nigerian Students – British High Comm Explains.
Professional freelancer and webmaster.
