UK diplomatic mission in Nigerian suspends flexi appointment walk-in service until further notice

BRITAIN's diplomatic mission in Nigeria has announced a temporary suspension of the Flexi Appointment regime known as the walk-in service whereby applicants can  turn up without appointments and get seen at its visa application centres (Vac).

 

According to the mission, the move became necessary to ensure the safety of its customers who stand outside Vac facilities. With the suspension of the walk-in service, the mission added that visa applicants will not be attended to should they appear before their appointment date.

 

A high commission spokesman said: “To protect the safety of customers waiting outside of our visa application centres, the flexi appointment (walk-in) service has been temporarily suspended. You will not be able to book one of these appointments online or by turning up at the Vac. If you have already paid for this service before 10 January, then you can still benefit from this.

 

“You should not attend the Vac until it is your allocated appointment time, or you have been contacted by TLS to collect your passport. Visa customers who turn up at the Vac significantly before their appointment will be asked to leave and return at the correct date and time.”

 

However, the mission stated that there would be exceptions for serious cases such as health emergencies, which would be on a case by case basis. Its statement added that applications for student visas are being processed within the normal time frame.

 

“Where there are extremely compassionate or compelling circumstances (for example, a medical emergency), UKVI may consider expediting specific cases. However, the bar for this is high and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

 

“We are aware that large numbers of prospective students are queuing outside of the Visa Application Centre to try and secure a visa appointment. Student applications are being processed within the customer service standard of 15 working days,” the statement added.

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