“£3000 visa bonds will affect a tiny percentage- British Envoy

The British Government has assured Nigerians that the introduction of ‘£3000 bonds’ for visa applicants in the visitors category being proposed will only affect a tiny percentage of visa applicants from the country.
Dr Andrew Pocock, British High Commissioner to Nigeria gave the assurance on Tuesday during a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru in Abuja, following concern raised by the Nigerian government.
The British Government recently announced that it intends to undertake a very small scale trial of the use of financial bonds as a way of tackling abuse in the immigration system (which occurs when some people overstay their visa terms).
According to him, out of around 180,000 Nigerian s that apply for United Kingdom visa annually, no fewer than 125,000 are always successful.
Mr. Pocock restated the important of travel between Nigeria and UK, saying it remains a key part of the strong cultural and business relationship both countries enjoy.
He told the Foreign Minister that “I welcome the chance to set out the facts on so called “visa bonds.” The High Commissioner however, said the “details of a pilot scheme are still being worked out. No final decision has been made.
“If the pilot were to go ahead in Nigeria it would affect only a very small number of the highest risk visitors. The vast majority would not be required to pay a bond. Those paying bonds would receive the bond back, if they abided by the terms of their visa.
“Let me put this in perspective. Over 180,000 Nigerians apply to visit the UK each year. About 70% or around 125,000, of those applicants are successful. Travel between our two countries is a key part of our strong cultural and business relationship. Financial bonds would be focused on only a tiny minority of potential abusers. It would NOT be a “£3000 visa charge” as some media reporting has alleged.
“As soon as more details of the policy have been decided, we will inform the Nigerian Government and public fully and officially, in the spirit of our long standing friendship, and our wish to help bona fide Nigerian visitors to work, study or do business in the United Kingdom”.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olusegun Ashiru had earlier expressed the strong displeasure of the government and people of Nigeria over the policy, which he described as not only discriminatory but also capable of undermining the spirit of the Commonwealth family.
He recalled with nostalgia, the times when nationals of the Commonwealth travelled freely to the UK and to other member states, noting that it deepened the strong historical bonds between the peoples of the various countries who were all regarded at that time as Commonwealth citizens.
He further recalled that this time-honoured practice was unilaterally jettisoned by the UK Government in 1985, thereby weakening the bonds of the Commonwealth family.
Ambassador Ashiru also noted that the proposed policy would definitely negate the joint commitment by Prime Minister David Cameron and President Goodluck Jonathan to double the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries by 2014, just as it would hinder people-to-people contacts, which is one of the cardinal principles of the Commonwealth.
He however informed the British High Commissioner that the Federal Government of Nigeria has a responsibility to take appropriate measures to protect the interest of Nigerians who may be affected by the proposed policy, if finally introduced.