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A report by a multi-party group of MPs accused the Home Office visa office of discriminating against African visa applicants.
The report, which was published jointly by three multiparty parliamentary groups: the APPG for Africa; the APPG for diaspora, development and migration; and the APPG for Malawi found that African claimants are more likely to be denied a UK visa than applicants from other parts of the world.
"Home Office data on visa refusals shows that African applicants are more than twice as likely to be denied a UK visa than applicants from any other region of the world. The United Kingdom has good relations with most African countries, but it must be recognized that no problem is more harmful to the image or influence of the United Kingdom in Africa than this issue. visas, "said the report.
The report also cites the perceived lack of procedural fairness and financial discrimination in decision-making among the difficulties faced by Africans in applying for a visa.
To address these challenges, the report recommended solutions to improve the visa application process for African citizens.
Some of the recommendations are listed below
Open more Visa Application Centers (VACs) in countries where they do not have one
Strengthen quality control systems of refusal letters before they are sent
Remove the requirement to demonstrate sufficient funds for the visit when there is clear and compelling evidence that a visit is fully funded by a credible UK-based sponsor;
Strengthen the role of the immigration inspector and monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the inspector, badociated with a more systematic relationship between the inspector and the relevant parliamentary selection committee.
Introduce an expedited application process for those traveling to a neighboring country.
Are the claims of discrimination true?
One of UNESCO's chiefs recently announced that she would no longer hold international conferences in the UK because of the Home Office's "inept," "embarrbading" and "discriminatory" visa system.
Alison Phipps, holder of the UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration, accused the government of having a "secret travel ban" by refusing visitor visas to academics – especially those from developing countries. from the Middle East and Africa – even though they were entirely sponsored by the UK and are visiting to participate in government funded projects.
-Citinewsroom
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