Emeka Aginam
10 September 2008
Abuja — The introduction of an on-line visa application service by the United Kingdom recently allowing customers to lodge or book their applications from their homes or offices may have increased the number of applicants even as the British High Commission in Abuja warned applicants on what it described as fraudulently obtained documents to support their visa applications.
The British High Commission in Abuja, the Federal Capital, disclosed that it refused no fewer than 18, 664 applications while 27, 107 applications were also issued respectively between 1st January, 2008 to 25th August, 2008.
Similarly, visa figure released by the British High Commission, Abuja, which has been in the forefront of transparent visa application process, also revealed that between 1st January 2007 to 25th August 2007, a total of 18,093 applications were issued while a total of 18,217 applications were refused based on many factors, especially forged document by desperate applicants who are mostly young people in their desperate attempt to migrate to UK for greener pasture even with the Nigerian economy getting better by the day.
A cursory analysis of the above figures show that 9,014 more visas were given in the current financial year than last by the British High Commission in Abuja.
Although the figures of applicants in Lagos and other states across the federation were not revealed as at press time where the commissionhas offices, the Entry Clearance Manager of the British High Commission, Abuja, Chris Green in an online interview with Computers & e-Business while raising alarm over forged documents noted that , "Our main problem is the presentation of fraudulently obtained or non-genuine documents. We welcome genuine travelers but those who submit false documents in support of a visa application will have their applications refused.
Before now, it would be recalled that the UK Government had earlier announced its plans to modernize the short-term visa system to ensure that the UK is attractive to business and tourism, whilst deterring those who seek to break the rules.
Key points in the document are not limited to the following: that maximum leave for visitors will remain at six months; A new sponsored family visitor category with licensed sponsors vouching for their family members' visits; no plans to introduce financial bonds for family visitors; new proposals for tourist visas, including group travel and special events visas and; a distinct clear category for business visitors.
All the changes in the document, according to UK follow a three-month consultation. For the first time, this consultation process included engagement with foreign communities abroad, as well as communities in the UK. The majority of responses received were from individual members of the public.
It will noted that forgery by visa applicants is not only limited to the UK visa applicants. The issue of fraudulent documentation, according to keen observers is a global issue which has remined a challenge to the government of the world.
With advancement in technology, experts have expressed optimism that issue of forgery will be put to the barest minimum in no distance time.
But looking at different policies on visa applications being introduced by foreign nationals in Nigeria, it appears that online visa application and biometric finger print are becoming popular.
This, according to IT experts is to reduce identity theft by dishonest applicants who can go out their ways to
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