The UK government has increased visa and sponsorship fees across various categories, including student visas, tourist visas, and indefinite leave to remain

The UK government has implemented fee increases for a range of visa and sponsorship categories, including student visas, tourist visas, and settlement applications.

Also read: U.S. issues stern warning to Nigerians overstaying visas

The changes, effective immediately, will affect both individuals and organisations seeking to sponsor workers and students.

The cost of student visas has seen an increase, with both the standard student and child student visas rising from £490 to £524. For short-term students studying English language, the fee has increased from £200 to £214.

Tourist visa fees have also risen, with the cost of a visit visa for up to six months going from £115 to £127. Longer-term visit visas have experienced larger increases, including the visa for up to two years (now £475, up from £432), the visa for up to five years (£848, previously £771), and the ten-year visit visa, which now costs £1,059, up from £963. Additionally, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee has been raised from £10 to £16.

Several fees related to settlement and naturalisation processes have also been revised. The fee for Indefinite Leave to Remain has risen from £2,885 to £3,029, while the cost of naturalisation (British citizenship) has increased from £1,500 to £1,605.

Other naturalisation and nationality registration fees for British overseas territory citizens, British overseas citizens, British subjects, and British protected persons have similarly risen.

For those sponsoring workers and students, sponsorship fees have also seen increases. A large worker sponsor licence now costs £1,579, up from £1,476, while a small sponsor licence or temporary worker sponsor licence has increased to £574 from £536.

Additionally, the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fees for Skilled Worker & GBM Senior or Specialist Worker categories have seen a significant rise, from £239 to £525.

The fee for a Temporary Worker CoS has increased from £25 to £55. Similarly, the Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) fee for students and child students has gone up from £25 to £55.

These increases are likely to impact both individual applicants and businesses seeking to sponsor students and workers. While the government has not provided a specific explanation for the fee hikes, the changes reflect a broader trend of rising costs associated with immigration and visa processes.

The U.S. warns Nigerians overstaying visas of permanent travel bans and criminal prosecution, stressing no tolerance for violations

The United States has issued a strong warning to Nigerians overstaying their visas, announcing that violators could face a permanent travel ban and potential criminal prosecution.

Also read: Nigerian visa issues resolved for Akwaaba African travel market delegates

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria released the warning on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, making it clear that consular officers have full access to immigration histories and can easily detect any past visa violations.

The statement from the U.S. Mission left no ambiguity, stating, “If you overstay your U.S. visa, you could face a permanent ban on traveling to the United States, as well as criminal prosecution.”

The Mission went on to dismiss the notion of “accidental overstays,” asserting firmly, “There is no such thing as an ‘honest mistake’ – it is your responsibility to use your visa correctly.”

This stern message follows increased scrutiny of immigration violations as U.S. authorities enforce tighter regulations on visitors not adhering to visa rules.

With thousands of Nigerians traveling to the United States for tourism, business, and education purposes, this warning highlights the serious consequences of non-compliance.

Recent reports have also indicated that Nigerians have faced difficulty renewing U.S. visas due to prior overstays, with many now finding it harder to secure future entry into the country.

Immigration experts have warned that even a short overstay could lead to long-term travel restrictions, making it difficult for offenders to enter the U.S. in the future.

This latest development signals that the U.S. is tightening its stance on visa violations, with severe penalties for those who do not comply with immigration laws.

Oyo State plans to sanitise its travel and tour sector, focusing on unregistered operators. Registration drive starts March 24, 2024

The Oyo State government has announced plans to sanitise the state’s travel and tour sector by targeting unregistered travel agencies and allied tour operators.

The initiative, aimed at ensuring better service delivery and compliance with relevant regulations, was disclosed by the state’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, during a press conference on Monday in Ibadan, the state capital.

The event, organised in partnership with the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), sought to sensitise and raise awareness among operators about the government’s intentions to regulate the sector more effectively.

Olatunbosun stated, “The objective of the exercise is to inform the operators of travel and tour agencies, concerned stakeholders, and the general public about the government’s plans to sanitise the sector through registration of all travel and tour operators in the state.”

The commissioner highlighted the challenges posed by unlicensed operators, stating that many travel and tour agencies operating without the required licences fail to comply with industry laws.

These unregulated operators have been causing significant hardship for the public, with many clients experiencing subpar services. “Most of the tour and travel operators operating without licences fail to comply with the relevant laws and regulations that guide the industry and have caused untold hardship to members of the public as a result of the low standard of service,” he added.

As part of the sanitisation process, Olatunbosun explained that the registration of all travel and tour operators would enable the state government to create a comprehensive database.

This would allow for effective monitoring, evaluation, and regulation of agencies operating within the state, ensuring public safety and improving the quality of services provided.

The sensitisation campaign is set to begin on March 24, 2024, and will run for one month. During this period, operators will be encouraged to register and comply with the necessary regulations.

After the awareness phase, the government will implement enforcement measures, including sanctions against unregistered agencies that fail to meet the required standards.