A Nigerian student in the United Kingdom, Enyi Onyinye Grace, has been ordered to leave the country after violating the work-hour restrictions imposed on international students under UK visa regulations.
Grace, who arrived in the UK in 2022 for her studies, said the breach was unintentional and stemmed from financial hardship following the death of her father in 2023.
Grace shared her ordeal in a now-viral emotional video on her TikTok page, @stasha253, where she recounted the “hellish” experience of balancing grief, studies, and financial survival in a foreign country.
“It’s been a hell of three years. I came in 2022, and in 2023, my dad passed away. I still had to work to pay my school fees despite everything I was going through,” she said tearfully.
The 24-year-old explained that her father had been her primary sponsor, and after his passing, she was left with no financial support. With mounting tuition and living expenses, Grace took on extra work hours beyond the 20-hour-per-week limit allowed for international students during academic sessions — a move that ultimately led to her visa violation.
“It was so hard that I had to view my father’s burial through a video call,” she said. “I was devastated, but I had no choice. I needed to work to survive and pay my fees. I made a mistake, I overworked unknowingly.”
Her breach of visa conditions, however, drew no leniency from UK authorities. Grace said immigration officials ordered her to leave the country immediately, rejecting her appeals for consideration based on her personal circumstances.
“I thought everything was fine. They didn’t listen to me. They asked me to leave the country with immediate effect. They didn’t give me a chance, at least to complete my studies,” she said.
Following her sponsorship’s withdrawal, Grace said she approached her university, pleading to be allowed to finish her course remotely from Nigeria. But her request, she added, was turned down.
“I’ve asked the uni if they would allow me, even if I go back to my country, to finish my course online. That was the only thing I asked, but they said no,” she revealed.
Her story has sparked emotional reactions across social media, where many have expressed sympathy for her plight and questioned the rigidity of the UK’s student visa enforcement.
Critics argue that while immigration rules must be upheld, compassion should be exercised in cases involving genuine hardship.
As of now, Grace says she is preparing to leave the United Kingdom as instructed but remains devastated by the abrupt end to her academic dream. Her case highlights the delicate balance international students face between survival and compliance with immigration laws, particularly amid personal and financial crises.
