Foreign
UK Govt Increases Financial Requirements for Student Visas
The UK government has announced a significant hike in the financial savings requirements for international students, marking the first adjustment since 2020. This change, effective from January 2, 2025, affects students planning to study in the UK, with new savings thresholds that reflect updated cost-of-living expenses.
Updated Financial Requirements for Students
To secure a student visa, international students must now demonstrate they have sufficient funds to cover living expenses for each month of their course, up to nine months. This requirement applies differently based on whether the student will study in London or outside the capital:
Studying in London: Students need to show evidence of having £1,483 per month.
Studying Outside London: Students must prove they have £1,136 per month.
Previously, the required amounts were £1,334 per month for London and £1,023 for locations outside London.
Why the Change?
The adjustment aligns the required savings with the increases in maintenance loans available to domestic students. However, the financial requirement has not been updated since 2020.
According to a government report, these changes are part of a broader strategy to keep pace with inflation and the rising cost of living in the UK.
Total Savings Needed for Visa Application
For students planning to study in London for nine months or more, the total amount of savings they need to show is now £13,348. This figure reflects the cumulative requirement of £1,483 per month over the nine months.
Flexibility in Proof of Funds
The UK government offers some flexibility for students in meeting these requirements:
Offsetting Maintenance Funds: Students can reduce the amount of funds they need to demonstrate if they have already paid a deposit for their accommodation in the UK.
Exemptions for Long-Term UK Residents: Students who have been residing in the UK on another visa route for at least 12 months by the date of their application do not need to show proof of maintenance funds.
Other Requirements for Student Visa
To obtain a UK student visa, applicants must meet several requirements besides financial savings. These include:
Acceptance Letter: A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed UK educational institution.
English Proficiency: Proof of English language skills, typically through tests like IELTS or TOEFL.
Health Insurance: Enrollment in the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for access to the UK’s National Health Service.
Valid Passport: A valid passport or travel document.
Meeting these criteria ensures eligibility for a UK student visa.
Implications for Student Recruitment
While this change alone might not drastically affect international student recruitment, it comes amid a series of policy updates that collectively create a more challenging environment for prospective students.
The UK government has indicated a commitment to regularly review and adjust these financial requirements to ensure they stay aligned with economic conditions and changes in domestic maintenance loans.
Restrictions on Dependants
Apart from this, the UK also imposes restrictions on dependants of international students, allowing only those studying at the postgraduate level or on government-sponsored courses to bring their dependants, such as spouses or children. Students in undergraduate or lower-level courses are generally not permitted to bring dependants to the UK.
Conclusion
International students planning to study in the UK should prepare for these updated financial requirements and consider the potential impact on their budget. Staying informed about these changes and understanding the options for offsetting maintenance funds can help ease the visa application process.
South Africa’s anti-immigration group, March and March, has announced September 30 as a fresh deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country, as it staged a protest outside the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Durban on Monday.
The group marched through central Durban under the theme, “It’s time to fetch your people,” calling on African leaders attending the 46th SADC Summit to take back their citizens living in South Africa without legal documentation.
March and March had earlier led nationwide protests on June 30, demanding tougher government action against undocumented immigration and warning that its campaign would continue until its demands were addressed.
Announcing its latest action, the group said the September 30 deadline would mark the beginning of what it described as the “mother of all protests”, while urging South Africans to assist the police in identifying undocumented foreigners.
The protest took place as the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government got underway in Durban, with leaders from the regional bloc’s 16 member states in attendance.
The demonstration has renewed debate over South Africa’s treatment of foreign nationals, particularly citizens of other African countries.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently condemned discrimination and violence against foreigners, saying South Africa could not advocate regional integration at the SADC summit while practising exclusion within the country.
The June 30 protests were accompanied by security operations and reports of attacks and looting in some areas, according to police reports cited in the original report.
March and March has continued to demand tougher action against undocumented immigration, while tensions over the treatment of foreign nationals have prompted some African countries to evacuate their citizens from South Africa.
The latest protest has brought the immigration dispute directly to the doorstep of the SADC summit, placing the issue before regional leaders whose citizens are among those affected.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if it “gets in the way” of a US deal with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, while calling on Tehran to surrender.
Trump made the remarks in an interview with Fox News journalist Trey Yingst, amid ongoing talks between Oman and Iran over future maritime navigation arrangements through the strategic waterway.
“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them,” Trump said, referring to the discussions between Oman and Iran as Washington pursues its own negotiations.
Iranian and Omani officials have been holding talks for weeks, with Iran’s Foreign Ministry saying Monday that both sides were working towards a joint declaration on the strait.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is under US control, despite Iran maintaining an effective blockade that has severely restricted maritime traffic.
On Friday, Trump said he could even declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory, prompting Iran to insist that the strategic waterway “will remain Iranian.”
Trump also called on Iran to “put up the white flag of surrender,” according to Yingst.
The Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran to the north and Oman to the south, was previously regarded as an open international waterway and carries a significant share of global energy shipments.
AFP
There has been no known deployment of US ground forces in Iran during the Middle East war, with the exception of a rescue mission in April for a downed American pilot.
Hatami did not provide any details on where or when the killing or capturing of US soldiers was expected to take place.
“Anyone who kills or captures and hands over an invading American military personnel will receive a reward equivalent to $30,000 or 5 billion tomans from the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army,” Hatami said, using an informal unit equivalent to 10,000 Iranian rials.
The war between Tehran and Washington began on February 28 after the United States, joined by Israel, attacked Iran. It was followed by an April ceasefire after nearly 40 days of fighting, and a June framework for peace talks that later collapsed.
Iran and the United States have since traded fire sporadically, with fighting mainly centred in southern Iran and around the Strait of Hormuz.
AFP
The family of Philip Ifeanyi Elobuike, an indigene of Eziama Village, Ebe, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, has appealed to the public for assistance in locating him after his photograph surfaced on social media following nearly two years without contact.
Elobuike first travelled to the United States around 2004 and initially settled in the Los Angeles area of California. He later moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, before relocating to Dallas, Texas.
According to his family, Elobuike remained in contact with his relatives in Nigeria until around 2024, when communication with him suddenly stopped. Before losing contact, he was active on social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
His family had continued searching for him, and on August 11, 2026, they were relieved when his photograph surfaced on social media. The picture provided them with at least some reassurance that he was alive.
Elobuike Philip
However, contrary to reports circulating in some media outlets and on social media, Elobuike has not been reunited with his family or located by his kinsmen in the United States.
His relatives and members of the Nigerian community reportedly spent the entire day on August 12 searching for him in different parts of Dallas but were unable to locate him.
The family is therefore appealing to members of the public, particularly Nigerians and other individuals in the Dallas area, to assist in locating Elobuike and ensuring that he is safely reunited with his family.
The family also urged people to disregard reports claiming that he has already been found and reunited with his relatives, describing such reports as inaccurate.
Anyone who has information about Elobuike’s whereabouts or comes across him is urged to contact any of the following:
Dr. Fred Ngwu: (214) 418-8145
Moses Onyejekwe: (213) 479-2340
Law Okolo: (646) 302-2597
The family expressed appreciation to everyone who has shared his photograph and appealed for continued circulation of the information until he is successfully located.
No fewer than 205 Nigerians were deported from Canada in June 2026 as Canadian authorities intensified enforcement of the country’s immigration laws, according to official figures released by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Immigration removal statistics published by the CBSA showed that 10,607 individuals were removed from Canada during the month, with Nigerians ranking among the top 10 nationalities affected by the exercise.
The figures indicate that Nigerians accounted for nearly two per cent of all removals carried out in June.
India recorded the highest number of deportations, with 3,323 nationals removed, followed by Mexico with 1,573. The United States accounted for 372 deportees, while Colombia and Romania recorded 354 and 293 removals respectively.
Other countries with significant numbers of nationals deported included Bangladesh, with 227, and Pakistan, with 207.
Explaining the rationale behind the removals, the CBSA said enforcing immigration laws was critical to protecting the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.
“Removing individuals who do not have the right to enter or stay in Canada is essential to maintaining the integrity of Canada’s immigration program and to ensuring fairness for those who come to this country lawfully,” the agency stated.
The latest figures underscore Canada’s continued enforcement against individuals found to have no legal right to remain in the country, as authorities seek to ensure compliance with the nation’s immigration laws.
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