UK Visa £3,000 Bond: Nigerians Must Pay Or Forget London.

 

Irrespective of the outcry against its £3,000 visa bond by Nigerians, Britain will commence the scheme in the six listed Commonwealth countries as scheduled, the Home Office has said.

Some London businessmen are complaining against the policy on behalf of Nigerians because, according to them, many Nigerians spend a lot of money buying things in their shops whenever they visit the UK.

The Commonwealth countries to be affected by the policy which was announced in June are Nigeria, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The affected countries are considered to be source of “high risk” tourists to the UK.

According to official data, these 6 countries accounted for more than half a million visa applications in 2012.

Some visitors from the six countries, under the scheme, will be asked to pay a £3,000 cash bond in return for visitor visas that allow them to stay in the UK for up to six months.

There have been angry protests  by governments of the affected countries, especially Nigeria and India against the policy.

The Federal Government, through Foreign Affairs minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, in June expressed “the strong displeasure of the government and people of Nigeria” over the “discriminatory” policy.

Ashiru warned British High Commissioner Andrew Pocock at a meeting in Abuja, barely 24 hours after the policy was announced, that the move would “definitely negate” the two country’s relationship.