UK Halts Fast-Track Visas for DR Congo in Dispute Over Migrant Returns
The United Kingdom has suspended its priority visa processing services for all nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Home Office has confirmed. The move, which also removes preferential migration rules for senior Congolese officials and VIPs, is a direct response to what the UK government describes as Kinshasa’s “poor cooperation” on the return of its citizens deemed to be in the UK illegally.
The decision escalates a dispute over migration management and means Congolese applicants for UK visas will face significantly longer processing times. The withdrawal of fast-track services extends to business leaders, diplomats, and other figures who previously benefited from expedited arrangements.
A spokesperson for the Home Office stated the action was taken due to the DRC’s “ongoing refusal to cooperate adequately on the removal of failed asylum seekers and foreign national offenders.” The UK has repeatedly emphasised that international cooperation on returns is a “fundamental part” of its immigration system.
This penalty follows a direct warning issued in November 2023 to the governments of the DRC, Angola, and Namibia. The Home Office cautioned that a lack of improvement in accepting the return of their nationals with no legal right to remain in Britain would result in visa sanctions.
The policy is part of a broader UK strategy to leverage visa regulations to secure cooperation on immigration enforcement. Similar measures have been applied to other nations in recent years under UK immigration law.
There has been no immediate public response from the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The visa changes are expected to impact diplomatic and business exchanges between the two countries, adding strain to bilateral relations. The sanctions will remain in place until the UK Home Office determines that sufficient cooperation on returns has been restored.
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