Are the UK’s schemes for Ukrainian refugees working?

The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to widespread international outcry,
ranging from messages of support on social media to firm political statements and new refugee schemes.

The latter is a highly complex matter in the UK and beyond, and any such schemes will have required intense consultation with immigration experts before launch. Below, we’ve summarised the UK’s two schemes currently in operation, as well as covering the backlash they’ve received early on.

The UK’s schemes for welcoming Ukrainian refugees

The family visa scheme

The family visa scheme was launched at the beginning of March this year to welcome Ukranians with family members currently living in the UK. The conditions are that this relative must have British nationality, indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence. The scheme was soon extended after receiving negative feedback for excluding close family members.

Refugees can apply at a Visa Application Centre in the likes of Poland, Romania and Hungry, or they can apply online with their Ukrainian passport. As of the 24th of May 2022, 45,000 applications had been made, with 39,700 visas granted, and 22,000 arrivals recorded under the scheme.

Sponsorship scheme

The second option is the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which allows UK residents to volunteer to host Ukrainian refugees who don’t have family ties here. It launched in midMarch and requires hosts to provide rent-free spaces in their property for at least six months. Hosts must be vetted by the government, while Ukrainian applicants receive security checks.

Providing food and living expenses is optional, but each volunteer household is offered £350 a month tax-free for up to a year. Up to the same date as above, 90,500 visa applications had been made, with 75,300 issued, leading to 38,100 arrivals.

Why has the UK government been criticised?

Despite progress, political commentators and scheme users have labelled the government’s response to the crisis as confusing and overly bureaucratic – especially in comparison to that of other nations.

UN data shows that Poland has taken in well over 3.5 million refugees, with Romania welcoming close to 1 million Ukrainians. But the UK’s arrival numbers lag well behind, in part due to delays issuing visas.

The complicated nature of the UK’s visa process has caused much frustration, with reports of refugees being turned away at Calais due to not having the correct paperwork. The checks required under the Homes for Ukraine scheme meanwhile, which can include council visits and DBS checks, are only adding to what feels like a long, multi-step process for people with little time to waste.

It's a fine balance between being generous and careful, of course, and any alterations to the UK’s two schemes will need to be meticulously considered. In the meantime, both sides will be hoping for positive news regarding Russia’s intentions.