Real approvals from Nigerian applicants - including those with previous refusals
All stories are compiled from real applicant experiences shared on forums during August-December 2025. Names have been anonymized for privacy.
This applicant had 4 previous UK visa refusals and 1 US visitor visa refusal. They graduated 9 years ago and were applying for a Master's program.
They declared ALL previous refusals honestly and provided comprehensive documentation including employment letters covering the gap years, NYSC certificate, and detailed explanation of their career progression since graduation.
Previous refusals don't automatically disqualify you. Honesty and thorough documentation matter more than a clean record.
This applicant had 3 US visa refusals and 1 Canadian visa refusal. Despite this history, their UK Student Visa was approved in just 11 days.
They submitted complete documentation upfront and declared all previous refusals. The quick turnaround shows that previous refusals from OTHER countries don't necessarily trigger extended processing.
Previous refusals from other countries (US, Canada, etc.) don't automatically delay UK visa processing. The UK system evaluates your application independently.
This applicant had 2 previous UK visa refusals and a 5-year study gap. They received an NSF (additional documents request) during processing.
They responded with employment letters, reference letters, transcripts, and certificates. The focus of UKVI's investigation was work experience and employment history verification.
NSF is NOT a refusal. Respond promptly with requested documents. UKVI verifies employment history - have your employers ready for potential contact.
This applicant was called for a 90-minute interview - unusually long compared to the typical 15-30 minutes. The interviewer said to expect a decision in 2 working days.
Despite the lengthy interview, the visa was approved the same day (around 5pm).
A long interview doesn't mean refusal. Stay calm, answer honestly, and the outcome can still be positive - even faster than expected.
UKVI sent an email saying they couldn't verify the bank statement. The applicant contacted their bank manager, who confirmed UKVI had never actually contacted them.
They simply re-sent the same bank statement. Three weeks later - approved.
"Verification failed" sometimes means UKVI never actually contacted the bank. Don't panic - resubmit documents and wait.
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