Lagos, Nigeria – Na wah! This one na serious gist wey dey come from UK about one Nigerian student wey sabi as e be for abroad. Onyinye recently share her story online, and e no sweet at all. This babe dey talk about how she end her academic journey for UK suddenly because she break immigration law. E be like movie, but na reality!
So, the koko be say Onyinye work pass the 20-hour limit wey dem don set for her visa during term time. Abeg, no be say she no sabi the law o, but life na wetin e be. Especially as she dey try manage her papa wey don die wey dey sponsor am before. This her story remind plenty people wey dey struggle as international students for UK. Dem dey try balance studies and the need to chop!
Now, make we break am down for you. The UK student visa, wey people sabi as Tier 4 visa, sabi say you fit work only 20 hours during term time. If you wan know wetin happen if you cross this line? Abeg, dig o! Your uni fit report your matter to the Home Office sharply, and from there, wahala go dey!
One of the first wahala wey go jam you na visa curtailment. You fit lose your visa or dem fit reduce am small, and before you know am, they go tell you make you pack your load comot. Chai! This one fit cut your academic dreams and aspirations sharply! No be small matter.
Na im we dey hear say, apart from losing your visa, your school fit expel you or stop you from completing your course. Even if you don dey close to finish, e no go matter. All the money wey you don spend, effort, and hopes go just scatter like that. E dey pain, abeg! (Na serious emotional wahala). Imagine how you go feel lose your community and environment wey you don build around your studies.
And omo, no be only your current visa matter. This kind thing fit affect your future visa applications big time. If dem see say you break immigration law, your record go dey carry mark wey go dey make dem scrutinize your future applications like dem dey find wetin dem go chop. Omo, no be small wahala!
In serious cases, dem fit even deport you or take legal action against you. E no dey happen every time, but e dey possible depending on wetin you do. How long you work, and if the work na lawful? All these go matter for your case. One immigration advisor don talk say, “Dis one na tight limit wey you no fit average over time. Make sure say you sabi am well to avoid wahala.”
So wetin dem fit do if dem need to work pass 20 hours? E get legitimate pathways wey go allow you work more than that, but you gatz navigate am well. One option na through school-sanctioned work placements. This one mean say na part of your academic program, and e go help you build experience too. Just remember say no make placements pass 50 percent of your course duration.
Also, after you don finish your studies, you fit apply for visas wey allow full-time work, like the Graduate Visa. E go allow you stay for UK for two years wey you fit work without stress (three years for PhD holders). Another option be Skilled Worker visa, if you fit find UK company wey go sponsor you.
As for support, plenty universities dey provide help for students wey dey face financial wahala. Dem dey get hardship funds, advice on money management, and mental health resources too. If you dey struggle, no shy! Carry your matter go meet your uni or student union for support.
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