This archive report was first published on 18 July 2019.
Published on July 18, 2019, a study by the All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPG) for Africa exposed the UK visa system's flaws, affecting African applicants.
The study found that the current system is not fit for purpose, inaccessible to many Africans, and widely perceived as discriminating against them.
According to the report, the use of a centralized application system requiring applicants to travel long distances to apply for a visa is a significant barrier.
Chinyelu Susan Onwurah, a member of the British Labor Party, led the research team, which noted weak quality control, lack of oversight, and perceived procedural unfairness against Africans.
Applicants often faced arbitrary and illogical decisions, with additional documentation requested beyond the guidelines.
Financial discrimination was also identified, with applications rejected due to insufficient funds, even when guaranteed by a sponsoring third party.
The team established that there was no right of appeal and a hefty fee for re-application to correct a mistaken decision.
Ms. Onwurah, MP for Newcastle, noted that the broken visa system damages UK-Africa relations, the economy, and society, leaving the slogan of 'Global Britain' empty and meaningless.
The study recommended a review of UK visa issuance rules to ease access for African applicants and salvage British business, academia, arts, and culture.
