Priti Patel today announced she is relaxing visa rules to make it easier for Ukrainian refugees to come to the UK. The Home Secretary said: „From Tuesday I can announce that Ukrainians with passports will no longer need to go to a visa application centre to give their biometrics before they come to the UK”.
There are two routes for Ukrainian refugees to come to the UK:
- a „family reunion route” which allows British nationals and Ukrainians living in the UK to bring their relatives to Britain.
- a ’humanitarian sponsorship pathway’ which will allow individuals, charities and business groups to offer to sponsor Ukrainian citizens with no family ties to the UK so they can come to Britain.
The first scheme is up and running but the second is yet to be launched. It was announced last week but ministers still have not published the full details of how it will work.
Below you will find the information on how to apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa:
Overview
The Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK.
It is free to apply.
You will be able to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds.
If you need any assistance, please call the 24/7 free helpline +44 808 164 8810 (0808 164 8810 if you’re in the UK).
If you cannot contact UK 0808 numbers, please use +44 (0)175 390 7510.
Eligibility
To apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme you must:
- be applying to join or accompany your UK-based family member; and
- be Ukrainian or the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national who is applying to the scheme; and
- have been residing in Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022 (including those who have now left Ukraine)
Your application will be subject to security checks.
UK-based family member
Your family member must be one of the following:
- a British national
- someone settled in the UK – for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
- someone from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland who has pre-settled status and started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
- someone with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK
You must provide evidence that your UK-based family member is one of the following:
- an immediate family member
- an extended family member
- an immediate family member of an extended family member
You will be asked to provide a copy of an official document that confirms your relationship to your UK-based family member. For example, a marriage or birth certificate if you have one.
Please note you can still apply if you are unable to provide this document, explaining why you are unable to do so.
Immediate family members
An immediate family member is your:
- spouse or civil partner
- unmarried partner (you must have been living together in a relationship for at least two years)
- child who is under 18
- parent (if you are under 18)
- fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner
Extended family members
An extended family member is your:
- parent (if you are over 18)
- child who is over 18
- grandparent
- grandchild or your partner’s grandchild
- brother or sister
- aunt or uncle
- niece or nephew
- cousin
- mother-in-law or father-in-law
- grandparent-in-law
- brother or sister-in-law
Immediate family member of an extended family member
An immediate family member of an extended family is the:
- spouse or civil partner of an extended family member
- child under 18 of an extended family member
- parent of a child under 18 who is an extended family member
- fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of an extended family member
If your UK-based family member is your (or an extended family member’s) spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner the relationship must have started before 1 January 2022.
Other family members will be considered where there are exceptional circumstances.
If you have a family member from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
You might also be eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit if you are the family member of someone who is living in the UK with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme who is from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
You can choose which scheme you apply for but please do not apply to both the Ukraine Family Scheme and the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit.
Regardless of which scheme you apply to, if you’re eligible you’ll be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme once you’re in the UK.
How long you can stay
Your visa will last up to 3 years.
Fees
It is free to apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme.
You do not need to pay the immigration health surcharge for this scheme.
Apply
Apply from outside the UK
You must apply online for the Ukraine Family Scheme.
How long it takes
You will need to await a decision from UKVI on your application before travelling.
We will prioritise your application and aim to make a decision as quickly as possible.
You will be contacted when a decision has been made.
Please do not attend the VAC to collect your decision until you have been contacted.
Apply from inside the UK
Guidance on how to apply to the scheme from inside the UK will be available soon.
In the meantime, you can call the free 24/7 helpline on +44 808 164 8810 (0808 164 8810 from within the UK) for help with any questions about the scheme. If you cannot contact UK 0808 numbers, please use +44 (0)175 390 7510.
Source: gov.uk
Picture: Twitter @Straz_Graniczna
