A Nigerian family heading to the United Kingdom through the popular sponsorship visa route was reportedly denied entry at the Heathrow airport. The family members numbering about 5 were also forced to returne to Nigeria in very painful circumstances.
The very recent development, from available report happened last Sunday and has added to reports of UK visa hopefuls from Nigeria who have suffered similar fate this year alone.
Media source who spoke to our reporter disclosed that the family were denied entry into the UK because their sponsor did not confirm knowledge of their coming when they were contacted by the UK Boarder Agency.
The sponsoring company where reportedly called on the phone by the immigration officials to identify the family but failed to do.
The UK sponsor is a healthcare provider who has provided a sponsorship job to one of the parents. This has allowed the family to get a visa to the UK. However, on getting to the airport the employer failed to confirm the family and their mission.
The company spokesperson and promoter said they were not “expecting them”. “They did not tell me they were coming”, said the employer, according to our source.
With these few words the dream of the family was brought to an abrupt end. All the resources spent on the trip immediately became a huge waste. All went down the rabbit hole.
The United Kingdom, as well as some other western companies have introduced work visa schemes that allows employers to bring workers from abroad to fill up vacancies that they are unable to fill locally.
The UK in particular have suffered acute labour shortage since Brexit, and this worsened after Covid-19. Government statistics shows that Nigerian account for one the biggest source of immigrants to the UK.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government have sworn to cut down net-migration to the UK, which ballooned in 2022. Notwithstanding, the UK is still a haven for immigrants who are seeking to relocate for purpose of work and resettling their family.
