£3,000 UK Visa bond takes off Nov

LAGOS —The proposed new United Kingdom visa policy requesting visitors from Nigeria and five other countries to deposit a 3,000 pounds bond before entering the UK will commence in November, despite British Prime Minister, David Cameron’s assurance that he would not sanction the controversial policy.

The policy is to restrict some visitors from India, Nigeria, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. They will have to pay the refundable cash in return for visitor visas that allow them to stay in the UK for up to six months.
At the height of the controversy, Mr David Cameron had assured that he would not sanction the policy.



But last weekend, Financial Times said: “Britain is pressing ahead with its trial of a scheme to make visitors from six countries pay a £3,000 bond, despite an international backlash and complaints from businesses. The government said it would begin a trial of the scheme in November to impose visa restrictions on six Commonwealth nations, including India and Nigeria, even though David Cameron poured cold water on the scheme in June after it provoked uproar in Delhi.”

Targets “high risk” applicants
The British government has reportedly decided to go ahead with it though the Home Office insisted that it was meant to target only “high-risk” applicants.

An official told the media that the scheme would be “highly selective,” targeting only “suspicious” applicants.
Under a “pilot” scheme to be introduced in November, first-time visitors from six non-white Commonwealth countries, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, will be required to deposit a cash bond of £3,000 for a British visa. According to the government, these six countries pose the “most significant risk of abuse” of visas by their citizens.
“In the long run, we are interested in a system of bonds that deters overstaying and recovers costs if a foreign national has used our public services,” the Home Office said.

The move comes barely weeks after Mr. Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg were reported to have refused to clear the scheme in its present form, fearing that the backlash in India and Nigeria threatened to damage bilateral relations at a time Britain is desperately trying to woo Indian investors and tourists.
Cameron was reported as saying that he would “not sanction” any policy that was likely to undermine his push for investment.

The Financial Times said that the u-turn had provoked anger in Britain’s business circles, who described the plan as an “insulting deterrent” to wealthy tourists from countries like India and Nigeria.

“They are urging the government to drop the pilot, saying the restrictions will damage their business if Commonwealth tourists, particularly Nigerians, now the sixth biggest spenders on luxury goods in Britain, are put off,” it said.

How FG reacted
When the story of the visa bond broke last month, the Federal Government in its reaction described it as discriminatory and capable of undermining the spirit of the Commonwealth. The Jonathan administration therefore asked the British Government to reconsider the proposed policy saying it has a responsibility to take appropriate measures to protect the interest of Nigerians who might be affected by the proposed policy if finally introduced.

Following public outcry against the visa policy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru summoned the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Andrew Pocok to express Nigeria’s displeasure over the proposed visa policy.
At the end of the closed-door meeting, which lasted several hours in the ministry, the British envoy clarified that the policy had not reached the stage of implementation.

Policy’ll negate joint commitment
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed by its spokesman, Ogbole Ode said: “The minister recalled with nostalgia, the times when nationals of the Commonwealth travelled freely to the UK and to other member states. This, no doubt, deepened the strong historical bonds among the peoples of the various countries who were all regarded at that time as Commonwealth citizens. He further recalled that this time-honoured practice was unilaterally jettisoned by the UK government in 1986, thereby weakening the bonds of the Commonwealth family.

“The minister further noted that the proposed policy would definitely negate the joint commitment by Prime Minister David Cameron and President Goodluck Jonathan to double the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries by 2014, just as it would hinder people-to-people contact, which is one of the cardinal principles of the Commonwealth.

“Ambassador Ashiru said the decision of the UK Government is coming at a time the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers have unanimously recommended for adoption at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, CHOGM, holding in Colombo, Sri Lanka in November, a proposal to remove visa requirements for holders of official and diplomatic passports from member states.

“The minister, therefore, called on the UK Government to reconsider the proposed policy, which is incompatible with the strong and cordial relations built over the years between the UK and Nigeria.”

“He, however, informed the British High Commissioner that the Federal Government has a responsibility to take appropriate measures to protect the interest of Nigerians who may be affected by the proposed policy, if finally introduced.”

July 26, 2013 8:36 pm
Visa restrictions put Nigerian mega-spending at risk

[img]http://im.ft-static.com/content/images/8d3de0d9-058f-4372-b4f7-e939a5c92f93.img[/img]

Early on a midsummer evening, the gilded halls of Harrods are heaving with shoppers. From the throngs gathered within the cool and cloistered accessories rooms to the exotic bustle of the Egyptian Hall, visitors from Nigeria are particularly plentiful.

She might not flinch at dropping £3,000 on a designer handbag, but the prospect of splashing out the same amount on a cash bond to obtain a visa is something high spending visitors find insulting.

“Make no mistake, no one is interested in immigration hassle – if things get tougher, then Nigerians will definitely go elsewhere – over to Europe or perhaps to the US, where one can get more for their dollar,” she says.

Data released this week by tax-free shopping specialists Global Blue have revealed that Nigerians are the sixth largest spending nationality of luxury shoppers in the UK, snapping closely at the heels of tourists from Thailand and Russia.

They are also the only group in the top 10 under imminent threat of the bond, which the government is set to pilot in November as a prerequisite for UK entry on all six-month visas issued to travellers from Nigeria, Ghana, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Data from the Office for National Statistics suggest that the proposed bond could have a big impact on Nigerian spending in the UK. Of the 142,000 Nigerian visa applications in 2012, over two-thirds were for six-month visas, as many applicants want flexibility for multiple short-stay shopping trips.

Taking the other five countries into account, this could potentially affect 543,000 tourists on 2012 figures.
Global Blue’s data show Nigerian spending rose 17 per cent in the first six months of 2013, measured against the same period last year, with the average spend per head rising to £628 from £505. Luxury retailers fear these gains will be reversed when the visa pilot is launched, driving wealthy shoppers on to the continent.

“What on earth is the point of us pouring all this money into our retail industry if we promptly usher potential visitors across the Channel?” says Mark Henderson, chief executive of British heritage brand Gieves & Hawkes.

“More protection is yet another step in the wrong direction and we’re doing everything we can to make that clear to the government,” said Michael Ward, managing director of Harrods.

Luxury retailers have long been campaigning for a more streamlined visa process for Chinese shoppers, the top foreign spenders in the UK.

Visitors to Europe who apply for a Schengen visa can cross multiple borders to 25 countries with one application. However tourists who wish to travel to the UK must apply separately for a second visa.

According to the UK China Visa Alliance, only 7 per cent of Chinese visitors to Europe also choose to visit the UK, meaning the majority of their luxury purchases are made in rival retail hubs such as Paris and Milan.

Gordon Clark, UK manager at Global Blue, said: “Visit Britain has estimated that an easing of current immigration regulations could add up to £1.2bn annually to the UK economy and create up to 24,000 jobs.”

Afam4eva: Now people will stop going to the UK. Not as if there's anything to gain from that country anyways. Moving from Naija to the UK is like going from fry pan to fire. Even those that are there are seeking a return ticket.

eGuerrilla:

Source: http://www.ft.com

Ah well, Nigeria's itinerant shoppers will simply have to strike Britain off their list.

mikeansy: If this policy comes to effect Nigeria owes it as a duty to herself to place harsh conditions to all British interests in Nigeria.

All British expatriate workers should require to pay 5000pounds visa fee and 1million pounds bond to come and work in Nigeria

The tax policies for all businesses with British ownership should also be raised to 50%

We really don't need Britain anymore to be honest. It is time to isolate this arrogant good for nothing country!

Desola:

Says he who has never crossed the Atlantic Ocean let alone boarded a plane.

Nonsense!'

Afam4eva:
Are you in the UK too? I thought as much. Your comments has London written all over.

Desola:

You will know because you live there too, right?

You have a brain for a reason - use it! At least I hope you do.

Afam4eva:
No i don't live there. I'm averse to poverty. You nko?

Afam4eva: As a matter of urgency, i think Nigeria needs to close it's borders from British citizens who are coming to Nigeria to seek a better life. One good turn deserves another.

Desola:

The more reason why you will never visit let alone live there.

I say amen to your prayer ojare! May you never have any reason to go to the UK in your lifetime o.

Afam4eva:
Amin Amin AMin, ni oruko Jeeeesu.

Desola:

Couldn't agree with you more.

Now you see why I think Lagos' borders should be closed to never do wells ibos.

We seem to be on similar wavelength today.

Desola:

Stamped sealed and may that apply to your generations yet unborn too.

Isee...

Afam4eva:
If you had not schooled in peckam, you would have understood that there's a difference between a country and a state or region. As long as Nigeria remains one, we muct inter-live, inter-marry and inter do everything together. To think i even thought you were living in Isale-eko. I no know say you dey peckam dey hussle. May God see you true.

Afam4eva:
You must see London as heaven. It's because of people like you that the white man sees Africans as backward people. Why don't you join coogar in his job as the chief nanny of the newly born royal baby. God bless the Desola.

Desola:

May you and your generation never cross the Atlantic let alone study in Peckham oooo....

Desola:

Are Africans not backward?

Afam4eva:
Africans are not backward but i don't know about you. Since you live in peckam, i won't hold my breadth on that one.

Afam4eva:
Sorry to burst you bubble but there are nice places across the Atlantic. I'm thinking of going for the Rio Olympics where i will be serenaded by beatiful Brazillian chikalas in Copa cabana beach. The Waikiki beach in Hawaii is a place i'll like to visit. Guadalajara is on my mind. The Carribean also on my mind. America and Canada on my plans. There are many beautiful countries the world over that i will love to visit except that country where you call home. The united Kingdom is the owner place i won't wish for my worst enemy to visit.

Desola:

By that virtue you have inadvertently conceded that Africans are indeed backward.

What was your argument again, buba?

Afam4eva:
So you also have a problem with English. Were you not the one that called yourself backward? Abi do you think every African is like you. Here in Africa, we're progressive people who are simply being Africans. You better move down eher before peckam consumes you. Ajegunle will be a good start. I know a guy who returned from London and started buying tubers of yam from the North and selling in Lagos. Today, he's a millionaire. If he can do it so can you.

TheBookWorm: I guess more Nigerians will be attempting to come to the United States now, since the Brits have made it harder for them to come to the US.

Texas, Maryland, and New York will now be seeing an influx of more Nigerians.

TheBookWorm: I guess more Nigerians will be attempting to come to the United States now, since the Brits have made it harder for them to come to the US.

Texas, Maryland, and New York will now be seeing an influx of more Nigerians.

Afam4eva:
Those people tried going to the US or Canada but were not issued a visa, so they copted for the UK. Getting a US visa is not moi moi especially if the applicant cannot present themselves like is coming with peckam brought ups.