Program for Ukrainian refugees in the United Kingdom

At the end of February 2022 the whole world was shocked by the news of the start of a war in a modern European country. The government of the United Kingdom did not stand aside and quickly developed a free program for those affected by Russian aggression – Home for Ukraine.

On Friday, 18 March, the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme was announced for refugees from Ukraine who do not have friends or relatives in the UK but want to come because of military actions in their home country.

The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme provides refugees from Ukraine and their family members with shelter in the United Kingdom on behalf of a sponsor. A sponsor can be a citizen of the country willing to provide their own accommodation for at least six months.

The program allows you to study and work in the United Kingdom and receive financial assistance from the state.

Advantages of the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme:

• The ability to legally stay in the country for up to 3 years;
• Shelter is provided for at least 6 months;
• Permission to work and study;
• Access to healthcare (National Health Service);
• Financial assistance (social benefits).

Who can get a visa?

If you are a citizen of Ukraine or an immediate family member:

• Adults;
• Persons under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian;

Requirements for obtaining a visa:

• As of 01.01.2022 they were residing in Ukraine;
• Are not present in the United Kingdom;
• Have found a sponsor who meets the requirements and is willing to host them for at least 6 months.

Procedure for submitting an application

The primary condition is the presence of a person who is ready to provide sponsorship. The search for a sponsor must be carried out independently. Women are recommended to look for British women and exercise caution.

A refugee is not legally dependent on the sponsor, so volunteer organizations help with finding accommodation.

The government accepts applications from sponsors (both individuals and legal entities) on the official website. But often applications are sent directly to volunteer organizations that carry out further searches for accommodation for refugees.

You must specify a specific person when submitting the application – otherwise the visa will not be issued, that is the requirement.

Do you need an emergency evacuation? Then sponsorship without specific individuals can only be arranged by two countries within the United Kingdom: Wales and Scotland. These countries can provide shelter free of charge; in the application you indicate one of them in the field “Sponsoring organisation”.

Have someone you know who can be a sponsor:

Together with this person you fill out the visa form on the portal, accurately entering all the data. One application – one person. You do not need to fill out an additional form.

Before the visa is approved, the person wishing to become a sponsor undergoes a full government check. The sponsor’s accommodation is checked for its capacity to accommodate the Ukrainian and undergoes a safety inspection.

Don’t have a potential sponsor you know:

Look for volunteer organisations based in the United Kingdom. For example:

• National Center for Volunteering: www.volunteering.org.uk;
• Scotland: Volunteer Development Scotland: www.vds.org.uk;
• Scottish Council for Voluntary Organizations: www.scvo.org.uk.

They will help you find an interested person who can host refugees more quickly.

As soon as a sponsor is found, an email is sent to you confirming the successful completion of the sponsor search.

Then you should hold an online meeting to learn more about each other. If you have discussed all details and both parties are satisfied, then you proceed to jointly fill out the visa application.

On the site apply.visas-immigration.service.gov.uk you submit the application online together with the sponsor. Necessary documents should be prepared in advance, as an inactive session is limited to 25 minutes.

You may not need to provide biometrics and can fill out only the visa form if you have a biometric passport. You can present an expired one with a renewal stamp. (At the time of application you must have a copy of the page with the extension stamp.)

If you do not have a biometric passport, upon arrival you must go to a visa center to provide biometric data. You should have with you:

• Ukrainian passport;
• ID document;
• Birth certificate.

Among the required documents when filling out the form: a copy of the passport page with the photograph.

It is mandatory to provide documents that verify the sponsor’s identity. Acceptable documents include:

• Irish and British passports;
• Biometric residence card;
• Photo driver’s licences;

Additionally, you need to provide the sponsor’s residential address.

How to get to the United Kingdom after your application is approved?

You will receive a so-called permission letter, which will grant the right to cross the UK border. It must be presented to border officers when boarding the plane.

After arrival in the country, you are given six months to extend your residence permit.