Nigerian owners of Taste Africana, three children face deportation from UK over visa fees (Don’t Make the Same Mistake – See WHY!!)

Cynthia and Bright Chinule, a Nigerian family living in Leigh, United Kingdom, with their three children, fear they may be forced to leave the country if they cannot raise enough money for new visas. Their current visas expire in just 11 days.

The couple, who own Taste Africana, a well-known restaurant in the town, have just over two weeks to gather nearly £26,000 or face the prospect of returning to Nigeria after spending six years building their life in England.

Their financial struggles began last year when the roof of their restaurant’s original location collapsed just two months after they opened. Fortunately, they were able to relocate to a new spot on Market Street, where they have been operating since November 11. However, the financial strain from the move, combined with the rising cost of living, visa fees, and the immigration health surcharge, has left them unable to keep up.

Bright explained, “The immigration charges have increased significantly. Health insurance used to be around £300 per year, but now it’s about £1,800 per person, per year. For a family of five, along with visa application and lawyer fees, the total comes to around £26,000. Our visa expires in 12 days (11 days today), and we need to submit our application at least the night before. Right now, we just don’t have the money to do that. We need to raise enough to secure our visas and regain some peace of mind. The thought of being forced to leave after six years of hard work has drained all the peace out of me. It’s overwhelming.”

Before opening Taste Africana, the couple ran an online takeaway service called ‘Home Food UK’ from their kitchen on Glebe Street after moving to the area in 2021 to raise their young family. Cynthia, a former math teacher, started the venture while on maternity leave when she realized she couldn’t return to work as a teaching assistant and care for their children. The business quickly became popular, and Bright, who holds two master’s degrees and had a career in the NHS, joined her to run Taste Africana.

Now, the family faces the possibility of having to start over in Nigeria if they cannot submit their visa applications before the deadline.

In a last effort to cover the fees, the Chinules have turned to the internet for help. Bright launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the £25,620 needed, hoping that his previous acts of generosity will be repaid.

“I never thought I’d do this,” Bright wrote. “As someone who has always tried to stand on my own, it’s not easy for me to ask for help. But with only 14 days left to secure the necessary funds, I’ve come to realize that I can’t do this alone. Over the years, I’ve tried to give back to the community in every way possible — offering hot meals to rough sleepers during the cold winter months, supporting struggling families with food donations, and more. And I promise to continue paying this kindness forward,” he stated in the GoFundMe appeal.

A Home Office spokesperson commented, “Our visa fees are based on the principle that those who use and benefit from the immigration system should contribute to its costs, reducing the burden on UK taxpayers.”