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UNITED KINGDOM: Relaxed Visa Rules for Ukrainian Nationals to Come to the UK via ‘Humanitarian Support Package’
March 2, 2022
In a statement to Parliament this week, Home Secretary Priti Patel has confirmed that the UK government has created a “generous” and “unprecedented” package of measures to help Ukrainians and their family members enter the UK.
As previously reported by Newland Chase, family members of British nationals resident in Ukraine who need a UK visa can apply through the temporary location in Lviv, or through Visa Application Centres in Poland, Moldova, Romania, and Hungary [which appears to be part of phase one of the government’s Humanitarian Support Package].
Ms Patel has now explained that the government had created additional capacity in all locations at speed, in anticipation of the invasion of Ukraine. This had included a pop-up Visa Application Centre in Rzeszow in Poland, which had provided a total capacity in excess of 3,000 appointments per week [This capacity is expected to increase to 6,000 appointments a week, as of this week].
She has now confirmed that she has removed the usual English language requirement and salary thresholds for Ukrainian nationals to come to the UK to be with their family members.
Where family members of British nationals do not meet the usual eligibility criteria – but pass all security checks – UKVI will give them permission to enter the UK outside the usual rules for 12 months.
She advised that this package would mean that British nationals and any person settled in the UK could bring immediate Ukrainian family members to the UK. Through this policy alone, she has predicted an additional 100,000 Ukrainians could be eligible to come to the UK and access work and public services.
Anyone in Ukraine intending to apply under the Family Migration route is advised to contact the dedicated 24-hour Home Office line for assistance before applying.
Ms Patel has now clarified in her statement that Ukrainian nationals already in the UK have and will be given the option to switch, ‘free of charge’ – to a points-based immigration route or a family visa route.
Visas for Ukrainian temporary workers in some sectors are also being extended, so they can stay in the UK until at least 31 December 2022.
Ms Patel has also warned that the government will bring forward amendments to visa penalty measures in the ‘Nationality and Borders Bill’, so that it can slow down and stop the processing of Russian visas or any state that poses a threat to UK national security or the interests of its allies across the world.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson later confirmed that the rules would be altered again with the introduction of phase two of the ‘Humanitarian Support Package’ and as such “a couple of hundred thousand Ukrainians, maybe more, would be eligible to apply”.
Phase two of the ‘Humanitarian Support Package’ includes the introduction of the ‘Ukrainian Family Scheme’ which allows British nationals and people settled in the UK to bring a wider group of family members to the UK, extending eligibility to parents, grandparents, adult offspring, siblings, and their immediate family members. This scheme will be free.
Those joining family in the UK will be granted leave for an initial period of 12 months. They will be able to work and access public funds.
Local Sponsorship Scheme
The UK government is launching a new sponsorship scheme to ensure that Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes have a route to safety in the UK.
Charities, businesses and community groups can come forward to sponsor Ukrainians who do not have already established family ties to the UK. The scheme will match people with sponsors.
The government has advised potential sponsors in the aforementioned groups to subscribe to notification emails via the GOV.uk website to stay up to date on the scheme.
Individuals impacted by these developments are encouraged to contact their Newland Chase immigration specialist for case-specific advice.
For general advice and information on immigration and business travel to the UK, please contact us.
