Britain goes tough on fraudulent visa seekers
From Oghogho Obayuwana, Abuja

ANY Nigerian trying to enter the United Kingdom (UK) for studies with fraudulent documentation when caught risks a 10-year visa ban.



The British government has however promised to encourage genuine Nigerians to improve their economic and social well being by acquiring British education.

At a dinner for delegates of 50 UK educational institutions on Monday night in Abuja, Jason Ivory, Head of Visa Services Operations of the British High Commission, said Britain would be strict in it application of visa rules.

The delegates are in Nigeria for the 6th yearly UK education fair, which began yesterday.

"We have been criticised in the past for second-guessing applicants. That the system (visa procedure) was complicated and unpredictable. We have now come out with this simpler method. The points system (Nigerians need to score 40 points) is transparent and makes sure that only the fraudulent is punished," Ivory said.

In June last year, in an apparent response to growing complains about its visa policy for immigrants, Britain had announced a new system for assessing highly skilled immigrants wanting to work in UK. It is an Australian style Points Based System (PBS), which guides potential students who having being offered admissions, seek to travel to the UK for study.

But the 10-year visa ban is only a sanction meant for the worst type of offender. "It is a very serious matter when applicants use false documents or deception when making a visa application and the ban is up to 10 years," he said.

Addressing the delegates earlier, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Bob Dewar, said one of the ways the partnership bond between Nigeria and Britain could be strengthened was through the sharing of knowledge and assistance in the development of Nigeria's human potentials.

Over 10,000 Nigerians went to the UK for studies last year. Dewar said: "We are very proud of this and we are very excited about it. Through this many bright Nigerians have been given the opportunity of making invaluable contributions to the Nigerian society when they return home."

The introduction of PBS follows a tightening of British border security, which requires all visa applicants to submit their fingerprints for checking against government databases before visas are approved.