A United Kingdom-based Nigerian, Toyyib Adelodun, has shed light on the financial challenges being faced by migrants in the United Kingdom, particularly when navigating visa applications and associated fees.

In a video shared online on his TikTok page on Friday, Adelodun detailed the steep costs involved in securing post-study work visas, highlighting the economic burden on international students and their families.

“This UK, you are one visa application away from emptying all your bank account,” Adelodun said, explaining the costs faced by those who come to the UK for postgraduate studies.

According to him, after paying tuition fees as high as £15,000 for a master’s programme, international students must shell out an additional £2,800 to secure a two-year post-study work visa.

This includes a £800 visa application fee and a £1,000 NHS surcharge per year.

“If you have a wife, they will do the same. If you have a child, they will do the same,” he said, noting that a family of three could end up spending over £6,000 for the same visa.

Adelodun expressed concern over the impact of these costs, saying, “There are people that have gone back home because they couldn’t raise that money, and they just need that two years’ experience on top of their master’s to be able to work and get UK experience to increase their value in the global marketplace.”

He also addressed the misconceptions some locals have about migrants, pointing out the significant financial contributions they make.

“Migrants, they pay through their nose to even be able to get anything. They don’t have recourse to public funds and they are paying all these fees,” he said, adding that indefinite leave to remain costs another £2,800 in application fees.

Adelodun highlighted the dual pressures migrants face, including expectations from family back home.

“You hear some people back home say, ‘Ah, he lives in the UK, his brother is doing wedding, his sister is doing wedding, he cannot send any money.’ I’m thinking, how do we resolve this kind of issue? We need to deal with ourselves with empathy,” he said.

He emphasised the need for patience and community support for migrants navigating a new country.

“It takes time to figure out what is going on when you move to a brand-new country. Be patient with yourself. Find some good people around you. It’s not easy in this land. God help us,” he added.