Hi Everyone, I am new here. I'm a UK-born Nigerian and semi-estranged from my family.  My family only tend to contact me when they want something (be it stuff purchased for them in the UK and shipped to Nigeria, money etc).  I received a voicemail today saying I 'urgently' needed to contact a certain relative in Nigeria.  When I did not contact that relative within 5 minutes, I received another call again saying I must contact the relative on an urgent matter.  I feared someone had died or was in jail or something.

I called Nigeria.  It was one of my cousins who wants to travel to the UK for the first time for a holiday in a few months.  She says she needs a Letter of Invitation from a British citizen before she can be granted the visa.  She said I am the only person who can provide this letter.  I pointed out to her that I am not the only British citizen in the family.  In fact there are dozens of us who hold UK passports and my cousin has closer relatives than me (ie, she has her brother) who reside in the UK and hold UK passports.  Why me? - I asked.  She then said I am the only one who is organized enough and reliable enough to write the letter properly and send in all the required documents.  What required documents? - I asked.  She then casually says that I need to provide a copy of the data page of my passport, a utility bill, my tenancy agreement as well as the letter of invitation.  I would need to send all this info directly to her.  At this point I began to feel a little uneasy.  Some members of that branch of the family have been caught up in shady stuff like fraud, drug trafficking etc.  I said I didn't really feel comfortable and also said couldn't she get her brother to do it.  She said again her brother could not be relied upon to know how to use a photocopier or scanner or whatever in order to scan and email or fax these docs to her (strange considering her brother is an educated professional).  I then came up with an idea:  the brother can write the letter and provide his own documentation and I'll show him how to scan it and email it!  She didn't like this idea, again claiming that I am the only one who must do this.

So my questions are:  are all these docs really needed just for a Nigerian citizen to come to England for a short vacation?  Is it safe with all the identity fraud that goes in the world, to have such confidential docs floating around?  With these docs somebody could open fake accounts in my name left right and centre. 

Also, my family is very dysfunctional and as I said borderline-criminal.  They've frequently asked me to get involved in dodgy practices like marrying a man for money just so he can get his UK passport, couriering suitcases for them that they claim contain clothes and gifts, 'investing' £1000 into some business for them when they can't specify what the nature of the 'business' is etc etc.   There are also constant requests for me to take out bank loans in my name for them or put stuff on my credit card for them and they'll pay me back later.  They do try to take advantage of the fact I'm the only person in the entire family who can obtain a bank account or credit card (they've abused banking facilities so much that they can no longer get accounts in their own names)

How does this latest visa proposition sound to you?  Should I decline to help and thus upset and outrage the entire family?

If something feels wrong to you, don't do it.

From the little you've posted here about your family, sounds like they're trying to make you feel guilty, if you don't o what they ask of you, bla bla bla.

As for the documents, yes, that's pretty much what you'd need to send, but you can send it directly to the British High Commission - not to the invitee.
That way, it doesn't get seen by the person planning to travel.
You can send it via one of the major couriers - Fedex, UPS, DHL etc.

Bear in mind though, you'll be solely responsible for the activities of your guest, whilst they're in the UK.
And by all accounts, you could end up paying dearly - in more ways than one.
Don't do it if it doesn't feel right to you - regardless of your family's wrath.

Thank you for your reply Siena

so basically if I did provide these docs, were my relative to act a fool while in the UK, or refuse to leave, or run out of money or whatever - I would be liable?

Yes, you'd be entirely liable.

@Poster

Your sending the invitation letter and other stuff do not guarantee visa.

There's more to that than that.

I wouldnt advice you send it to BHC.

Tell the guy you will send it to them and watch his reaction.

Hi - watch whose reaction?

^^^ My sentiment exactly.

Why raise your blood pressure?
The writing's on the wall, plain as day.

Dadahead:

Hi Everyone,  I am new here. I'm a UK-born Nigerian and semi-estranged from my family.  My family only tend to contact me when they want something (be it stuff purchased for them in the UK and shipped to Nigeria, money etc).  I received a voicemail today saying I 'urgently' needed to contact a certain relative in Nigeria.  When I did not contact that relative within 5 minutes, I received another call again saying I must contact the relative on an urgent matter.  I feared someone had died or was in jail or something.

I called Nigeria.  It was one of my cousins who wants to travel to the UK for the first time for a holiday in a few months.  She says she needs a Letter of Invitation from a British citizen before she can be granted the visa.  She said I am the only person who can provide this letter.  I pointed out to her that I am not the only British citizen in the family.  In fact there are dozens of us who hold UK passports and my cousin has closer relatives than me (ie, she has her brother) who reside in the UK and hold UK passports.  Why me? - I asked.  She then said I am the only one who is organized enough and reliable enough to write the letter properly and send in all the required documents.  What required documents? - I asked.  She then casually says that I need to provide a copy of the data page of my passport, a utility bill, my tenancy agreement as well as the letter of invitation.  I would need to send all this info directly to her.  At this point I began to feel a little uneasy.  Some members of that branch of the family have been caught up in shady stuff like fraud, drug trafficking etc.  I said I didn't really feel comfortable and also said couldn't she get her brother to do it.  She said again her brother could not be relied upon to know how to use a photocopier or scanner or whatever in order to scan and email or fax these docs to her (strange considering her brother is an educated professional).  I then came up with an idea:  the brother can write the letter and provide his own documentation and I'll show him how to scan it and email it!  She didn't like this idea, again claiming that I am the only one who must do this.

So my questions are:  are all these docs really needed just for a Nigerian citizen to come to England for a short vacation?  Is it safe with all the identity fraud that goes in the world, to have such confidential docs floating around?  With these docs somebody could open fake accounts in my name left right and centre. 

Also, my family is very dysfunctional and as I said borderline-criminal.  They've frequently asked me to get involved in dodgy practices like marrying a man for money just so he can get his UK passport, couriering suitcases for them that they claim contain clothes and gifts, 'investing' £1000 into some business for them when they can't specify what the nature of the 'business' is etc etc.   There are also constant requests for me to take out bank loans in my name for them or put stuff on my credit card for them and they'll pay me back later.  They do try to take advantage of the fact I'm the only person in the entire family who can obtain a bank account or credit card (they've abused banking facilities so much that they can no longer get accounts in their own names)

How does this latest visa proposition sound to you?  Should I decline to help and thus upset and outrage the entire family?

@Dadahead:

Ditto what Siena and Treetop20 said. Sounds like your instinct has already kicked in, and you pretty much know that you will be entering this 'situation' at your own risk. Look at it this way: If providing these papers for this fair-weather relative will jeopardize your credit/financial situation (e.g. fraud), your reputation, or your peace of mind (keeping an eye on a relative whose motive you do not know, for visiting the UK), then I see no reason why you need to debate on whether to provide them papers or not.

Sounds to me that you are not missing out on any 'family love' from them if they decide to stop 'talking' to you because you declined getting manipulated.

.

@ poster

I'm pretty surprised you live in the UK yet you don't know where to go for help. Please visit the homeoffice site below. Tells you all you need to know about bringing/ sponsoring someone to the UK

http://ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/

@Cvibe
Why would living in the UK result in me knowing or needing to know anything about bringing/sponsoring foreign nationals to the UK?

tpia:

yes, others have said it all.
A word is enough for the wise.

Gosh!

Does that mean we agree on something for a change?

Happy New Year, Tpia.

Dadahead:

@Cvibe
Why would living in the UK result in me knowing or needing to know anything about bringing/sponsoring foreign nationals to the UK?

I did wonder too.

I get asked about visa requirements, and because I don't know, some have resorted to insulting me.

.

Yes, was that thread we both remember so well.

And no, have never had another username, other than the one I have now.

tpia:


Happy New Year to you too.

Only time we've ever disagreed that I recall, was that fateful thread that got us both riled up. If that's what you prefer to remember instead of all the other times which were cool as pie, then what can I say.

not too mention you're mostly in the auto section which I tend to browse but not post in. So where have we been fighting, unless I've been arguing with you while you had another moniker?

Ha i no fit shout  

He's prolly one of those that tremble when they see your posts, but doesn't have the balls to say anything and instead takes it out on his computer






_{Sowwy dadmod  couldn't resist How's your thick hide, still holiding I guess}

busiest body how far as usual try to cause trouble here,repent this is 2009


e mi ni ooo danke

amebo no.1:

busiest body how far as usual try to cause trouble here,repent this is 2009


e mi ni ooo danke

Before nko, you don't even need to say its you Who no go sabi you, Aunty Amebo I don see your handiwork for romance section, just priming and grooming myself before coming there.

I am tired of being responsible for people's thread being moved to the games section so hopefully once I master the art of conforming to the rules and staying on-topic, and learn properly to be on my best behaviour, I am gonna be walking you out of your thread, can't wait, lol

@ Post

In agreement with everyone else, i would like to chip in too and advise you to bone their side Can't you change your number or something

Busy_body:


He's prolly one of those that tremble when they see your posts, but doesn't have the balls to say anything and instead takes it out on his computer

Not at all, Big_bumper:

Besides, Tpia's pretty harmless.

.

i agree with akolawole

Dont send the letter of invitation. It will come back to haunt you

I have informed them I'm not doing it.

I also noticed that text messages I'd sent them to wish them Happy Christmas and before that, to ask how they were, went ignored. I asked this relative whether she got my text at Christmas and she said, "yes! But we didn't have your number so we couldn't text you back."

If you successfully receive a text from someone - how can you not have their number? How did she miraculously find my number a few weeks later when she wanted me to provide her with a Letter of Inivtation?

case is settled, thank God u wer saved from those VAMPIRES u call ur relatives in Nigeria. That is just to show u much about the wickedness of the world.