₦airaland Forum

jpmoriarti:
The ideal final would be Argentina vs Spain, wouldn't it??

Absolutely, if there’s any side built to crack Spain’s rhythm, it’s Argentina. They’re the one team that doesn’t get intimidated by Spain’s possession game. Argentina thrive in chaos, in tight matches, in moments where mentality decides everything. They’re serial winners, they’ve been through every kind of pressure, and they know exactly how to suffer, control the tempo, and strike when it matters.

Spain might be the most fluid team in the world right now, but Argentina have that champion’s instinct, plus having Messi and the ability to win even when the match isn’t going their way. That’s the difference between a great team and a team that lifts trophies.

If anyone can break Spain’s machine, it’s Argentina.

At the end of the day, its a win-win situation for us all. The GOAT wins a second world cup, baby GOAT and the Barca boys win their first world cup... what a good situation to be in.

Calibrator:
Whatever the writers of Silo season three are on..... I want in too.

The writers completely lost the plot after the first season. What started as a tight, well‑paced story with clear character motivations suddenly turned into a messy mix of filler arcs, inconsistent behaviour, and twists that felt more like shock value than actual storytelling. It’s like they built a solid foundation, then spent the rest of the show knocking holes in it for no reason.

calmsuccess:
UK Birth Certificate is enough to apply for visa now. For Nigerian Passport, it’s only NIN that is required and they have agents here in UK that you can contact to get NIN for your child, NPC registration not required to get Passport here.

Yes, birth certificate alone is what is required.

NewT123:
it is not immediately compulsory for your child to have a visa to physically remain in the UK, but she will become an overstayer if you do not extend it.Under UK immigration law, a child born in the UK does not automatically become a British citizen if the parents are on temporary visas (like a Graduate/PSW visa).

While she can physically stay in the UK without a visa as long as she never leaves the country, her current dependant visa has an expiry date linked to your PSW visa. Once your PSW visa expires, if you do not switch her onto your new visa route, she will lose her lawful immigration status and technically become an overstayer.

Leaving your daughter without a valid visa after your PSW expires will create severe legal complications:Legal Status: She will be living in the UK without lawful status (illegally).

School Enrollment: By law, state schools in the UK cannot refuse education to a child based on their immigration status. She will be allowed to register and attend primary school.

10-Year Citizenship Route: If she lives in the UK continuously for the first 10 years of her life, she can register as a British citizen under Section 1(4) of the British Nationality Act.

Crucially, this route does not require her to have had lawful visa status. Even as an overstayer, she qualifies as long as she has not been absent from the UK for more than 90 days in any of those 10 years.

7-Year Child ILR Route: Under the Private Life route, a child born in the UK who has lived here continuously for 7 years can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). However, if she spent years as an overstayer, this application becomes much more complex because you must prove it would be "unreasonable" to expect her to leave the UK.The

Major Danger: If you and your wife apply for ILR in the future (e.g., after 5 years on a Skilled Worker Visa), your daughter cannot be granted ILR with you if she is an illegal overstayer. She would be left in legal limbo.

This is a really solid and well‑explained breakdown. Your point about her becoming an overstayer once the PSW expires if she isn’t switched to the new visa route is spot‑on. Once your PSW visa expires, if you do not switch her onto your new visa route, she will lose her lawful immigration stat. The clarification on the 10‑year citizenship route was very helpful too, especially noting that lawful status isn’t required as long as she meets the continuous residence requirement. Crucially, this route does not require her to have had lawful visa status. Overall, this is clear, practical guidance. Thanks for breaking it down so well.

One of the best deals we’ve pulled off in recent times, no doubt. When you look at how the squad has been crying out for reliable depth and fresh energy, bringing in a 24‑year‑old with that level of pace, dribbling ability, and upside is exactly the kind of smart business we’ve been missing. It’s not a flashy, ceiling‑raising transfer, but it’s the sort of move that quietly strengthens the team and gives us options we simply didn’t have last season.

Honestly, nothing here inspires confidence. We’ve heard all these “new policies” and “sweeping reforms” before, and they always end the same way, big announcements, plenty of grammar, zero real implementation. They’ll introduce another card, another system, another registration, and in a few years it’ll be replaced again because the next government wants to “start fresh.”

Even the parts that sound good on paper won’t survive contact with reality. The same agencies that can’t coordinate BVN, NIN, passport data, or basic verification are suddenly meant to run a unified digital identity system? It’s hard to believe anything will change when the underlying problems; incompetence, inconsistency, and constant policy reversal, remain untouched.

At the end of the day, this feels like another round of noise that won’t fix anything. Nigerians abroad will still struggle, Nigerians at home will still queue endlessly, and the system will still break down the moment it’s actually needed. Nothing new under the sun.

UncleHaba22:
I'll personally start an Araujo out campaign on x

That guy is useless he shouldn't escape this transfer window

We should've just scoped Senesi for free and use this window to look for a CB

Honestly, the frustration is understandable. Araujo has been nowhere near the level expected of a Barça centre‑back, and the mistakes are becoming too costly to ignore. For a player who was once seen as a future defensive leader, his decision‑making, positioning, and composure have all taken a worrying dip. At a club like Barcelona, you don’t get unlimited time to rediscover form, especially when the team is already struggling for stability.

If the board is serious about rebuilding the back line, then tough decisions have to be made. Letting him leave this window might actually be the cleanest solution for everyone involved. And you’re right: picking up someone like Senesi for free would’ve been smart business. He’s solid, experienced, and far more reliable right now than what Araujo has shown.

Barça can’t afford sentiment. If a player isn’t performing, the club has to move on quickly and bring in defenders who can actually deliver week in, week out. At this point, keeping Araujo feels more like holding onto a memory than a solution.

oyaskii:
"El Pluribus" wey i no fit pass episode 2 since last year...😩😩😩..18 norm ke? Okayy o

Easily one of the top shows of the last ten years. Dive back in from where you stopped.

Tier4Dependant:
A system fit for Britain

Since February, following an extensive consultation, I have been working to develop a balanced policy on permanent settlement. A system fit for Britain, that can stand the test of time.

From the outset, I have been clear that any reforms must be both fair and firm – fair to those who genuinely contribute to our country, and firm in ensuring that our immigration system supports economic growth, protects public services, and does not place additional pressure on the welfare system.

Since the consultation into settlement closed in February, I have been working closely with officials to develop a better approach than a blanket retrospective extension from five years to ten years for everyone. It is my strong belief that those who have come to the United Kingdom on care worker visas – who have played by the rules and have genuinely contributed to our care system – should not be required to wait longer to apply for settlement. That is the issue I am working hard to address. I am sure many readers will have experience of dedicated care workers from overseas helping them or their loved ones during difficult times.

At the same time, we cannot ignore the scale of migration in recent years. Under the previous government, net migration reached unprecedented levels, with around one in every thirty people now living in the UK having arrived during the last four years. More than 600,000 health and care visas were issued during that period to help fill just 40,000 jobs.

We now face the reality that a substantial number of people will become eligible for settlement over the coming years. If unmanaged, that could place further pressure on already stretched public services, including welfare and social housing. That is why it is essential that we strike the right balance; recognising contribution while ensuring the system remains sustainable and fair.

Alongside ensuring we strike the right balance within our Earned Settlement reforms, I am also exploring better solutions for overseas care workers and the sponsorship model under which they are employed. It is right that this route remains closed to new overseas recruitment, but we can and should improve the system for those already here and working in the sector.

Moving towards a fairer sponsorship model, which would allow care workers greater flexibility to move between approved care providers, could significantly improve standards across the sector, strengthen worker protections, and help build a more resilient health and social care system.

The current sponsorship model has created a race to the bottom. Low pay, poor conditions and exploitation have become far too common. That is not acceptable, and it is not the British way.

I am working closely with colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care on these issues, although no final decisions have yet been made.

My time in the Home Office has also highlighted just how complex and difficult to navigate Britain’s legal migration system has become. Across the board it requires simplification, modernisation and reform – and that work is already underway.

We are progressing, but it is vital that we get this right. Immigration policy is interconnected, and changes in one area can create unintended consequences elsewhere. That is why we are taking the necessary time to fully develop these reforms, assess their impacts, and ensure that the policies we implement deliver the outcomes we intend.

I hope to provide further updates in the autumn as this work progresses.

Mike Tapp
Minister for Migration and Citizenship

Honestly, his position is one of the few sane takes coming out of UK migration policy lately. The whole “tie the worker to one employer” thing has never made sense. It’s basically a system designed to give employers way too much leverage while pretending it’s about “control” or “orderly migration.” And yeah, people keep acting like this is some normal global standard, but the UK does it with a level of rigidity that’s honestly wild. Other countries have employer‑sponsored visas, sure, but they also build in escape routes, flexibility, or at least a process that doesn’t feel like you’re trying to break out of a hostage situation.

dimejalex:
what kind of skills can one go into ? im also tired 😢

People make blanket statements like that without considering individual circumstances or how those circumstances align with the realities of living and working in the UK. Unless you are a dependent (even some still do) or you have your ILR, its near impossible to just look at the care role from the spectrum of a side hustle. Many people go into care work because it offers the flexibility they need to balance their jobs with family responsibilities. Beyond that, it’s one of the few industries that reliably provides a pathway to remain in the country. Most well‑paid roles don’t offer visa sponsorship, even some positions within the NHS prefer to hire people who already have settled status. A lot of Nigerians have varying skillsets, but the many factors in the country are limiting. It is what it is!!!

jedisco:
Was it on this basis you opted out?

Its one of few reasons.

I still have a while to reconsider if i will jump back in, as i understand, it resets after 2-3 years.

justwise:
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Yup...the living gets richer the moment you are 6fit down under...basically you dying is someone's prayer point ....

Does that still apply, even if it involves family?

ehizario2012:
Thank you very much sir. This is a concise summary. Regards. The future is long time away though, and I've been reading that one can access the funds even if not living in the UK anymore at that time. But there's a lot of uncertainty!!! Another angle is that the age might be increased from 67 in the near future... For us under 40, it looks like opting out is a sensible option too. It's a really difficult decision right now...

This is one of many reasons I opted out. With how these people are so quick to shift the goal post, there is no telling they can't push the age to even above 70. I mean, once upon a time, the age of retirement was 60-63.

jpmoriarti:
Yeah Barcelona is not going to keep Marcus Rashford. It appears the coaching staff hadn’t thought he’d be any better than a substitute. And given his hefty salary, it doesn’t make financial sense to pay a bench warmer €15m.

I believe the option is still open for another loan move should ManUtd approve.

For me, I'm not gonna sweat on this one. I have always considered Rashford not a very good footballer.

Very poor technical abilities. And I think the damning verdict on him by Hansi Flick is his laziness off the ball. At 29, there's little evidence to show he's going to improve on this if we signed him permanently.

Hasta la vista Senor Rashford 🙌

I feel and share the same sentiment. He is not worth a permanent keep. Another loan deal is ok just to bolster the squad. He is annoyingly lazy.

Cyberknight:
It is indeed. Poor little children left fatherless.
I gather that the Tories are loudly calling for the return of stop and search targeted at "people most likely to offend", so apparently black men and boys who walk the streets of London will have to get ready.

Thats the way they would go. Kemi already called for it. Goes to show how the acts by a few can affect the whole.

Fred2020:
Ironically, many of the most extreme crimes and security-related offences are often committed by individuals who entered through immigration routes other than skilled work or student visas. Yet public and political attention frequently focuses on the latter groups.

Most people are unlikely to spend £25,000 or more on visa fees, relocation costs, and education only to jeopardise their future through criminal or extremist behaviour. Likewise, those working long hours, paying taxes, supporting themselves without recourse to public funds, and managing everyday financial responsibilities generally have little time or incentive to engage in radical or unlawful activities.

When the british public understands this, they can better tackle the issue from its root cause

Its all politics and like you rightly pointed, 9 out 10 chances of such crimes are likely to come from immigration routes not visa holders. The politicians know this!

Kilishihunter:
If a 150m bid (with intent to truly buy or not) can be rejected for Alvarez. It's time to cut our losses and move on. Fix the defence like our domestic rival is doing. And never give any player to atletico Madrid again. We've been their lapdogs for years in the transfer window. They should keep their player cause laporta will never bid 150m for him

To be fair, he is not worth more than 90m as he hasnt made any remarkable improvement since moving to ATM. He remains a good player and best suited to our style, but we should not go over our heads for him. An amortised 100m max and thats it.

jpmoriarti:
Guy welcome back😇😇 it’s been a long time you dropped a comment here.

Thanks bro.

Awesome01:
Rashford 's buy option ends on the 15th.

He costs more overall, when you put his wages into consideration.

veekid:
The difference in level between Rashford and Gordon tonight yikes

Rash has more age and experience, while Gordon is youthful and has much to discover. His price is the reason people have such high expectations, overlooking that the whole operation is amortized, which eases the payment for Barca's financial situation, yet is precisely why the fee was set so high. He typically would be priced at no more than 50m.

naivasha:
Question for the house: what is the best way to tackle an unresponsive agency?

In April 2025, I worked for three weeks with an agency called Barker Ross. Being fairly new to working in the UK at the time, I did not understand the importance of getting a P45 from them when I left. Moved onto other jobs and I thought all was well. Not until early this year when I realised I was being overtaxed because HMRC believed I had two jobs. I requested for the P45 and it was sent; however the exit date was put as May 2026 instead of April last year. Since then, I have sent emails, called them, sent some more emails but no response. How best do I get this sorted?

HMRC PAYE helpline: 0300 200 3300
Call and tell them you have an incorrect leaving date from a previous employer, and they are unresponsive.

Cyberknight:
Dear oh dear. Something has escalated quickly and emotions do seem to be running high.

For what its worth (given that we’re all ultimately internet randos to one another), I think the animus against Zahra is misplaced because I think she’s been an overall helpful contributor here. I do agree that some of her comments can come across as gatekeeping, but that doesn’t bother me in the slightest and – more to the point – were the roles reversed, I think many people would probably act the same way.

Similarly, the tone of some of the comments from the other side comes across as entitled, and sometimes verges on the farcical. For instance, the occasional bashing of native Brits as being “lazy” and welfare-addicted together with the associated romanticisation of our people as being hardworking “hustlers” is quite weird. Without toeing Mrs. Badenoch’s line, I think it goes without saying that if Nigeria had a social welfare system, it would be abused and exploited to the extent possible just as much as the Brits or any other developed country residents do with theirs.

Obviously these conflicts and tensions are going on in other non-white British communities as well. A cursory read of Reddit will show that. A couple of people here have summed up this whole matter perfectly and pithily - in the coming years our descendants too will have the same range of opinions and viewpoints of the current crop of second and third generation immigrant families and given that human beings exist in a state of perpetual conflict anyway, the cycle of disagreement and strife in this area will have no end. Ultimately, I think that we can all disagree and try to see others’ perspectives without inflamed emotions.

I get that some level of gatekeeping is inevitable, but there’s no need to be condescending about it, especially towards people from your own background. If she’s African, like I’m assuming, then it makes it even worse. It just ends up reinforcing the negative stereotypes that people already have about us, and coming from one of us, it hits differently. It leaves a bad taste, honestly.
That said, she still comes across as a decent person overall. I don’t think it’s right to completely dismiss how she feels or why she holds the views she has. People’s perspectives usually come from their own experiences, so even if you don’t agree, it doesn’t mean they should just be written off.

Has anyone recently renewed their passport using the self-service option? Mine runs out in 2 months, and I was hoping to use the self-service option, but it’s not appearing on the app. I completed the initial registration on their site and possess the application/reference number as needed. The sole available choice at this point is to schedule an appointment, with the earliest date I found being December.

Kenn55:
I think instead of doing life insurance till death, it is better to take a 10 or 20 year term life insurance depending on how old your kids are.

The essence of life insurance should be to protect your kids during their dependent stage. If you have a 5 year old child and you take a 20 year term life insurance, it is expected that after 20 years, your child would have become independent and would no longer need that backup.
If God forbid, you kick bucket when he/she is just 12 years old for example, the payout should be able to payoff the mortgage to guarantee them shelter, pay for their education and upkeep till they become settled.

You don't want the living standards of your wife and kids to drop or to rely on one wicked uncle, relatives or Gofund me to survive in the event of early kicking of bucket. It should also cover you in the event your wife kicks bucket first so it is not just for a man as most middle class families run on both husband and wife joint income

In summary, life insurance isn't supposed to be a wealth creation for the living but to secure your family during the period they will need it most in event the unexpected happens. It works for middle class, the rich wouldn't need it, their will is enough.

I think the answer to this is keeping your wife or kids as next of kin or direct beneficiary in the event of your passing.

willyede:
When you say meaningful way what do you mean by this as He/She is always sounding condescending and seem to have that disdain for immigrant and i still cannot fathom how he/she pretends to be nice in the visa section of the uk thread. I have never read her say anything positive about immigrants in the uk. It always negative stuff and thereby sounding like He/she does not want Nigerians presence in the ukay...No wonder some folks aint holding back.

The contempt in her tone is evident, no matter how she attempts to conceal it in her remarks. I am curious to find out the origin of that.

directonpc:
Zahra29 is a dangerous person, and unfortunately, our community has many of them.
Imagine making someone like the voice of people like us because they look like us. They'd make life hellish for people starting out in the same system that was favourable to them. Thank God man no be God.

Take it easy, bro. Dangerous is much of a tag.

Goke7:
That’s why dependents were also allowed to work full time as well and students themselves on holidays, see those who made the rules understood what they were doing and when they wanted reduce the influx or subscriptions they simply ban dependents, it’s simply a business decision based on credit system and not necessarily academics so It’s not black and white as we see it. See in the US dependents of students are not even allowed to work no matter the level of degree and there is no way the uk can compete internationally if they go that route so it’s competition and business hence the tweaks here and there.

Someone has suggested earlier the block fund system like Germany does, the question is why is the uk not looking into that direction? For me the answer is Germany sch fees is little or almost nothing for international students while the uk fees are astronomical so if you do block fund and also do astronomical fees again how do you compete? It’s left to the uk to do whatever they like sha in their own economic interests.

Exactly. The last time I checked, tuition in Germany is largely free, even for international students. When you compare that to the UK, it’s not even close.
That contrast alone says a lot. In one place, the system is set up to make education accessible. In the other, it often feels like a barrier you have to figure out how to climb, especially as an international student.

Zahra29:
It is a valid example - many came in their 40s or late 30s. It applies in the same way to those who came their 20s and early 30s. Your statement - that migrants have paid more into the NHS than Brits - is still grossly wrong. A migrant worker at 25 , 26, 29 etc who has paid £2 -3k in IHS has *absolutely not* paid more than his British peer who has been working since graduation at 21 - and most typically start working full or part time before 21- and making tax and NI contributions. It is fantastical to believe otherwise 😊



Lol, no one said that migrants shouldn't use and enjoy the NHS- both those who have paid the surcharge and those who haven't paid anything are able to access full NHS services.

However,no migrant has OVER paid except those who paid the 150% NHS charge

How do you mean people are not overpaying?
You’re paying about £2k or more for an 18‑month period, and in that time you might only see the GP once or twice. How does that not show that you’ve paid a lot for something you barely use?
The way you’re putting it makes it sound like every migrant uses the NHS in the same way, and that’s just not true. There are people who have been here for four or five years and have only been to the GP maybe twice. And even then, they’re still paying for their medication out of pocket.
The bigger issue, if we’re being honest, is the government underfunding the NHS. The population has grown, but the system hasn’t expanded to match it. Instead of taking responsibility for that gap, it’s easier to point fingers and blame immigrants, especially the legal ones who are actually paying into the system.
And yes, some dependents don’t pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. But whose decision was that? They didn’t set those rules themselves. If the exemption wasn’t there, do you really think they wouldn’t pay?
It just feels like people are focusing on the wrong problem.

Taal17:
This does not make sense
You get admission
School tells you your tuition and cost of living expenses
You present funds stating you have enough to meet these requirements of school
Then you say you can't pay TUITION in FULl?
So if you can not pay TUITION in full what will you about living expenses


There's a reason why places like Germany insist your funds are out in a bloc account where you can only access in the country.

I really hate it when people dismiss someone else’s opinion as not making sense, just because it doesn’t line up with theirs, especially when we’re talking about things that don’t even have a clear right or wrong. Take someone like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. Do people actually think they just have billions of dollars sitting somewhere in a bank account, doing nothing? That’s not how real-world finance works. If you look at how Musk bought Twitter, you’ll start to get a clearer picture of how money actually moves at that level. Just because someone has money doesn’t mean they’re eager to throw all of it into one thing. That’s not smart, and most people who understand money don’t operate that way. So when I see schools asking for part payments, I don’t get why people act like they’re clueless. These institutions know exactly what they’re doing. In fact, I’d argue the opposite. The schools insisting on full tuition upfront are basically sending a message, whether they realise it or not. They’re indirectly telling international students, this might not be for you. And honestly, it’s really that simple.

She is an Onlyfans olowsho and earns in dollars, so she would feel the cost of living is cheaper in Nigeria.

justwise:
You are not making any sense, do you want to pay the tuition fees or not? The university did not change their policy halfway through the semester, they want their tuition fees paid before the semester starts and they have every right to do that.

Last summer we all witnessed what happened with many Nigerians dragging their universities to media platforms because of tuition fees.

You are missing my point; just because I have N60m in my account doesn't mean I can invest it all in education at once, as that doesn't make sense to me. Possessing the funds indicates my ability to support both my tuition and living expenses, rather than serving as direct proof that I intend to invest the entire amount at once for a Master's degree. This is unrelated to the small number of Nigerian students who couldn't afford their tuition, representing a minuscule fraction of Nigerians studying in the UK. A vast majority of Nigerians eventually settle their tuition fees. Let’s not disparage ourselves for the minor issues within our community. It's no laughing matter; numerous universities are facing difficulties due to a shortage of international students.

Goodenoch:
Can you explain this please? Frankly it seems like terrible advice.

That’s because giving up your workplace pension means that you’re losing the employer contributions, and also means you’re losing tax savings because if you opt out of contributing 500 to your pension for instance, you won’t get back 500 to contribute to your private pension. What you’ll get back is 500 net of taxes, so 400 if you’re a basic rate taxpayer or 300 if you’re a higher rate taxpayer etc.

Combined with your lost employer contributions that means you’re losing perhaps 700–800+ going into your pension in exchange for only 300–400 extra in take-home pay, which you could simply move into any pension provider of your choice later and manage directly just like a private pension if you want (as long as you’re in a defined contribution and not defined benefit scheme).

The above even assumes you’d be as consistent in paying into your pension directly as it would be if it was getting taken off your payslip. In all likelihood, you won’t. You’ll skip May because the car needs fixing and plan to make it up in July; skip August because you need to buy that new phone and plan to make it up in September.etc etc

Unless there’s some nuance we’re missing here, giving up your workplace pension for a private one doesn’t make sense in any way, shape or form. The answer is to do both, ideally.

P.S. Sorry if I sound harsh. It’s because I know pensions are some of the most misunderstood aspects of personal finance among immigrants and I’m very particular about debunking many of the harmful myths I see going around that are bound to get people in their later years.

I get your point, but my take is, if I have to wait till I am 68yrs old (mind you, they can move the image to 70 in the coming years) to get around 200 quid every week, I can as well just say, ''f**k it!'', do a private pension, take it all out much earlier, plus the tax reliefs that come with it, then do something wholesome with the time comes. Plus, not everyone intends to live abroad till their 60s, I don't intend to. So, in the interim, heading home with that little stake makes sense, plus, missing out on the remittance to the pension account is unlikely as I will set a direct debit to handle that. This is not a financial advice tho!

justwise:
Why not? You applied for student visa with bank statements showing that you have all the money as required, university asking for the money and you are complaining? So was that money you presented during your visa application audios/untouchable loan?

Having the full money in one's account as shown via bank statements does not mean one is disposed to throw it all into education, especially as they know the applicants are more likely to be grown adults who possibly would have family. How many Brits can pay 10% of that money at a go. This move is more like them telling people not to bother to go further with the application. Makes no sense at all!