Jonny Baxter, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, shared with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the United Kingdom issued approximately 132,000 visas to Nigerians during the first half of 2023.
Baxter disclosed this information during an interview with NAN in Lagos recently.
However, he was unable to provide immediate statistics regarding the total number of visa applications received from Nigerians during the first half of the year.
He stated:
The British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos reiterated that changes in the rules regarding students bringing dependents were driven by international challenges.
He noted, “In 2019, Nigerian students going to the UK brought in 1,500 dependents.
By 2022/2023, that number has risen to 52,000 dependents, that’s a massive increase.
Nigeria is not unique, as it has happened for many other countries and indeed, this change on the dependents is an international challenge.”
He stated that it was understandable that the UK, being impacted by this influx of individuals, would review, and amend its policies.
Baxter disclosed that the United Kingdom reviews its visa fees on a regular basis to cover the costs associated with visa processing. He added that some visa fees contribute to covering the costs of services that certain visa holders may require while in the UK.
Jonny Baxter advised the public to apply for visas well in advance of their planned travel dates, emphasizing the existence of specific processes and timeframes for visa issuance.
