There are two visa schemes for citizens of our country
Great Britain is a country , which during the war of Russia against Ukraine developed measures to help our refugees, reports the Chronicle.info with reference to RBC-Ukraine.
What programs are available for Ukrainians in the UK
For Ukrainians fleeing the war, there are two programs in this country:
- Ukraine Family Scheme — for those who have relatives in this country;
- sponsor Homes for Ukraine, according to which local residents provide rooms for Ukrainian refugees for at least 6 months.
At the same time, Ukrainians get the opportunity to work and study, they are given access to free medicine and a residence permit in the country for three years. Financial assistance will also be provided.
How to travel to the country under the program for relatives
Citizens of Ukraine need a British visa to enter the UK. The government of the country makes it possible to issue visas to Ukrainians under a simplified procedure.
Citizens who do not have valid passports can also apply for a visa at the British Visa Application Centre. In this case, it is necessary to explain the reason for the absence of a passport.
Entry into the country is possible without a valid passport if you have a visa.
One of the first programs for accepting refugees from Ukraine, which started working in the country after the start of the war — Ukraine Family Scheme.
You can check the entry conditions for relatives at the link.
You can apply for a visa for family members on the website. These visas are issued to family members of British citizens, family members of Ukrainian citizens who, in particular, have permission to permanently reside in the country.
By the way, the Ministry of Internal Affairs also announced a program of humanitarian sponsorship. Individuals, charities, businesses and community groups will be able to sponsor Ukrainian citizens with family ties to the UK.
However, people are strongly advised to seek legal advice before applying for these visas.
A group of volunteer lawyers with experience in the immigration/asylum field is ready to provide free UK immigration and asylum advice to Ukrainian citizens affected by the current crisis.
Settled is a charity for EU citizens in the UK that can offer legal advice to Ukrainian citizens who wish to relocate family members to this country.
Email: ukrainefamilyscheme@settled.org.uk.
You can also get more information about legal advice by e-mail: ukraine@freemovement.org.uk
If you need help, call the 24/7 toll-free support number: +44 808 164 8810 — choose option 1.
If you can't call UK 0808, use: +44 (0)175 390 7510.
What «Houses for Ukraine provides&# 187;
On March 18, the UK government launched the «House for Ukraine» scheme, which allows Ukrainian citizens to stay in a sponsor's home in the UK for up to six months.
Those who are a citizen of Ukraine or the closest relative of a citizen of Ukraine and lived in Ukraine before January 1, 2022 are eligible for such legalization.
Apply for a sponsorship visa under the Local sponsorship scheme for Ukraine program, follow the link .
For this visa, a register of organizations and individuals offering their assistance in accommodating Ukrainians in the country has been created.
According to these procedures, visas are issued for up to 3 years with the right to live, work, study in the UK and access to government services.
If citizens of Ukraine have passports, visiting the visa application center is not required. Children do not need a passport. If Ukrainians do not have a passport, they will need to make an appointment and come to the visa center.
Security screening for both Ukrainian citizens and the UK sponsor will be carried out as part of the visa application process. Biometric checks will be carried out after the arrival of Ukrainians in the UK to avoid delays.
The program came into effect in the UK from March 18, in Scotland from March 23.
British visa centers accept documents for visas, in particular, in Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, France. The list of visa centers in different countries can be viewed at the link.
How to extend a visa for Ukrainians after the expiration date
The Home Office has agreed UK visa support for Ukrainian citizens who cannot return to Ukraine after their current visa expires.
These measures will help Ukrainian citizens extend their stay in the UK without having to travel and reapply from abroad.
If you are in the UK and cannot return to Ukraine, you can extend your visa or switch to another one, even if the visa conditions did not allow this before.
Travel of Ukrainian refugees heading to the UK
Several travel companies offer free travel to the UK:
Ukrainian Displaced Persons Travel Scheme offers free rail transport to all train operators in England, Scotland and Wales. All Ukrainians arriving in the UK will have 48 hours from arrival to receive free tickets and complete their journey.
To access this offer, you will need to present a Ukrainian passport and a boarding pass or ticket. You can also travel around London for free using the TfL London Underground, Docklands Light Rail (DLR), buses and trams.
Wizz Air is supporting Ukrainian citizens by offering 100,000 free seats on flights from Ukrainian border countries ( Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania).
They also offer special ticket prices of €29.99 on flights from other locations (excluding UAE, Iceland and the Canary Islands which are €69.99). euros).
Eurostar train company is offering free tickets to help Ukrainian citizens get from any Eurostar station to London St. Pancras International.
Persons who have received a valid visa to enter the UK can present it, along with their Ukrainian passport, to a member of the Eurostar team at Paris Nord (Paris), Brussels-Midi (Brussels), Lille Europe (Lille) stations ), Rotterdam Centraal (Rotterdam) or Amsterdam Central (Amsterdam), and they will issue a ticket for a trip to London.