FAQ Ukrainian nationals

Frequently Asked Questions about all three Ukraine Visa Schemes

 

Question:

Good afternoon. I am Ukrainian and have been living in England with my family for 18 months under the Homes for Ukraine visa program for Ukrainians. I am a conscript. I am concerned about the fact that Ukraine may soon conclude some kind of intergovernmental agreement with the United Kingdom on the extradition of military age Ukrainians back to their home country. Are my fears justified?

Answer:

There is no practice in the UK of expelling or deporting third-country nationals who have a legal right to stay in the UK, even if there is a mandatory conscription or mobilization established in those third countries.

 

Question:

What travel restrictions do I have with a Ukraine visa scheme 'Leave to Remain?'

Answer:

If you have a 3-year visa for the UK, you can travel outside the UK and return within the validity of your permission. Ensure you carry the necessary documentation and meet re-entry requirements using a BRP card, or share code after 31.12.2024.

 

Question:

What rights do I have as a resident during the visa period?

Answer:

During your Permission to Stay in the UK under a Ukraine scheme visa you have:

• right to leave;
• right to work;
• right to study;
• access to NHS support;
• recourse to public funds (if eligible) for 3 years.

 

Question:

What will be the consequences if I stay in the UK after the expiration of my visa?

Answer:

Overstaying your visa can result in serious consequences, including potential removal from the UK, future immigration issues, and difficulties with future visa applications.

 

Question:

If I have concerns about the safety of my child, what should I do?

Answer:

If there are concerns about the safety of children or vulnerable adults, British authorities have mechanisms to intervene, such as child protective services or adult safeguarding measures.

Contact your local children’s social care duty team. They’re available 24 hours a day, and can make an anonymous report if that feels safer.

 

Question:

How to apply for the Ukraine scheme outside the UK?

Answer:

How to apply for the Ukraine scheme outside the UK?

Fill in the application online and attend Visa Application Centre. Prove your identity and provide your documents.

You’ll need to book an appointment to have your photograph and fingerprints taken at a visa application centre (VAC) as part of your application.

Children under the age of 5 will not have their fingerprints taken but will still need to book and attend a VAC appointment and have a digital photograph taken.

At your appointment, you’ll need to prove your identity with any identity documents you may have such as:

• a valid passport
• a Ukrainian national identity card
• a combination of official documents – for example, a photo driving licence and birth certificate -* an emergency certificate issued by a Ukrainian authority since March 2022

For more information including opening hours and appointment booking, please visit the TLS website.

 

Question:

What do I have to do to get a BRP plastic card?

Answer:

If you applied for visa before 07.12.2023 the procedure for obtaining a BRP plastic card after entering the UK on a “Ukrainian” visa is specified in your visa decision letter. Read this letter carefully, as it will contain information about obtaining a BRP that is applicable to you.

 

Question:

If I did not collect the BRP at the post office within 60 days?

Answer:

We advise you to go to the post office, as it may not have been sent back yet.

Unfortunately, the Home Office does not provide clear written instructions on what to do when your BRP is returned to them from a post office.

 

Question:

Can I extend my Ukraine Scheme permit at the end of the 3 years?

Answer:

There is currently no information from the UK Government about extending this visa or applying for settlement via this route.

 

Question:

Are there any fees?

Answer:

No, visas application under all of the three schemes are free through the UK Government.

 

Question:

I am also eligible to make an application under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) as the Family Member of someone who is in the UK with (pre-)settled status. What should I do?

Answer:

We advise that in the first instance you make an application to the Ukraine Family Scheme to enter the UK.

If you’re eligible to make an application under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), you’ll be able to apply to the EUSS once you’re in the UK.

People should not apply to both the Ukraine Family Scheme and the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit as the Home Office may ask the applicant to choose which application they want to pursue or prioritise one application over another.

 

Question:

My application has been refused. What should I do now?

Answer:

There is no right of appeal or right to an administrative review. You should apply again, for free, under the relevant scheme, ensuring that you submit further evidence or a statement that clarifies your personal circumstances.

There are no restrictions to the number of times you can apply for a visa scheme.

 

Question:

I have been told that I have been granted a Ukrainian scheme permit for 3 years, but my BRP will expire on 31.12.2024. Why is this?

Answer:

Most UK biometric residence permit (BRP) cards will expire on 31.12.2024. After this date all immigration statuses will have only digital ‘view and prove’.

However, your permission to stay in the UK will expire on the date that is stated in your permission to travel letter.

 

Frequently Asked Questions on the Ukraine Family Scheme

Question:

Who can be a sponsor?

Answer:

• British citizens People with ILR
• Anyone settled in the UK (i.e. someone with Indefinite Leave to Remain, or Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme)
• Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechenstein, Norway or Switzerland with Pre-Settled status under the EUSS
• Refugee or HP status to join them, (Ukrainians who came under the Ukraine scheme are not refugees or persons with HP) provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

 

Question:

Which family members can I sponsor?

Answer:

You can sponsor a family member in one of the following relationships:

Immediate family (at least one of whom must be Ukrainian):

• spouse, civil partner or fiancé(e), relationship having started before 1st January 2022
• a partner who has been living together with you in a relationship akin to a marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years prior to the date of application
• child under 18 years (yours or your partner’s child)
• parent (yours or your partner’s parent)

Extended family. This could be a:

• child 18 years or over (yours or your partner’s child)
• grandparent (yours or your partner’s grandparent)
• grandchild (yours or your partner’s grandchild)
• sibling (yours or your partner’s sibling)
• aunt or uncle
• cousin
• niece or nephew

 Immediate family of an extended family member. This could be a:

• spouse, civil partner, or fiancé(e) of an extended family member, the relationship having started before 1st January 2022
• a partner who has been living together with the extended family member in a relationship akin to a marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years prior to the date of application
• child of an extended family member, aged under 18 on the date of application
• parent of a child aged under 18 on the date of application who is an extended family member
• fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of an extended family member, relationship having started before 1st January 2022

 

Question:

Who cannot be a sponsor under the Ukraine family scheme?

Answer:

Strictly speaking, the scheme does not cover migrants who have temporary immigration permission to be in the UK (other than EU pre-settled status who were in the UK before 01/01/2021). For example:

• if you are on a Skilled Worker or spouse visa, you cannot sponsor family under the scheme
• if you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen with pre-settled status – who was granted pre-settled status as a Joining Family Member

It may be possible for Ukrainians on temporary visas to sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme but they will not be able to do so under the Ukraine Family Schemes.

 

Question:

What evidence of relationship do I need to provide?

Answer:

The best evidence will be an appropriate certificate issued by a relevant authority, for example:

• a marriage or civil partnership certificate for a partner
• birth or adoption certificate for a parent or child
• joint tenancy agreements
• digital versions or copies of the evidence will be accepted.

All documents should be provided with a translation into English.

 

Question:

What if I don’t have evidence of my relationship with my sponsor?

Answer:

If you are unable to provide evidence of your family relationship with your sponsor you should upload a letter explaining your personal circumstances. The Home Office caseworkers have the discretion to consider the circumstances of your application and any reasonable explanation for a lack of evidence.

 

Question:

Can I apply as the family member of an extended family member?

Answer:

You can apply as an immediate family member of an extended family member, but the extended family member must be applying at the same time; or have been granted under the scheme.  Please note that the extended family member must be applying at the same time, even if he/she is not planning to enter the UK with you.

 

Frequently Asked Questions on the Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Question:

Who can apply?

Answer:

Any Ukrainian national with an approved sponsor ordinarily resident in Ukraine before 1st January 2022, unless they are a child born on or after that date.

Family groups who are applying must have the same approved sponsor.

If an applicant is non-Ukrainian, they must be part of an immediate family group that includes an immediate family member (partner, child under 18, parent of child under 18, fiancé(e) or proposed Civil Partner) who is a Ukrainian national and qualifies under the Ukrainian Sponsorship Scheme.

Children under the age of 18 will require parental consent notarized by an authority approved by the Ukraine government.

If a non-Ukrainian applicant is applying as a partner/fiancé(e)/civil partner of a Ukrainian national they must have been in a “genuine and subsisting relationship” with the Ukrainian national before 1 January 2022 and meet immigration rules related to relationships with a partner.

 

Question:

Are there any time limits for applying for a visa?

Answer:

The specific timeline for the Homes for Ukraine scheme may vary.

With the exception of the Ukraine Extension Scheme, according to which it is necessary to have a valid UK visa issued before 16/11/2023, however, the application itself under the Ukraine Extension Scheme can be submitted until to 16 May 2024.

It’s essential to check official sources for the most up-to-date information regarding program availability.

 

Question:

Who can become a sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme?

Answer:

A UK resident over the age of 18, of any nationality, provided they have at least six months’ immigration permission and can provide accommodation for a period of at least six months.

There are suitability checks including Police National Computer (PNC), Disclosure and Barring Service for criminal records and warnings, (DBS), and a visit from the local authority to ensure that the accommodation is suitable. Anyone sponsoring a child or a family will undergo an Enhanced DBS check.

A Ukrainian who has come to the UK under one of the Ukraine scheme visas can become a sponsor for the family member under the Homes for Ukraine scheme if they themselves meet all of the requirements for a sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. They will not be able to do so under the Ukraine Family Schemes. Please contact us for more detailed advice.

 

Question:

Do you help with finding hosts for Ukrainians coming to the UK?

Answer:

No, we do not help with ‘matching’ – i.e. finding a sponsor to stay with a host in the UK. We also do not find Ukrainian families for potential hosts.

We advise against looking for a host on social media because of the potential risk of being scammed by fraudulent or abusive people online.

 

Question:

If I came to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme and I don't have my own housing, how can I become a sponsor for my relatives?

Answer:

If you don’t have your own home to host a family member, alternative arrangements can be considered, such as renting a suitable accommodation that meets the Home Office’s requirements for hosting family members. Permission from the landlord is required.

 

Question:

If I came to the UK and then became a sponsor for my relatives, my three-year leave to remain will expire earlier. Will my family be able to stay in the UK or will they have to leave the country at the same time as me?

Answer:

If you are sponsoring a family member under the Homes for Ukraine, their leave to remain in the UK is not linked to the length of your stay. They will be able to stay in the UK legally until their leave expires.

The situation is different for minor children.

 

Question:

If I can't find a sponsor, can I apply to the Scottish or Welsh governments?

Answer:

The Welsh and Scottish Governments have been super-sponsors for Ukrainians fleeing the war, but such programmes are currently suspended.

Applications submitted under the super-sponsorship programme before 13 July 2022 have been considered and visas will remain valid.

The Government of Wales has acted as a super sponsor for Ukrainians. On 10 June 2022, this programme was suspended. Those who have received a visa can travel and will receive support as previously planned.

 

Question:

Do I have to pay the sponsor a rent?

Answer:

You do not have to pay rent if you live with a Homes for Ukraine sponsor.

The sponsor may ask you to pay utility bills (e.g. gas/electricity, water, etc.) and council tax. However, the sponsor must agree this with you before you arrive. Also, remember that you are entitled to social benefits during the term of your visa. These payments will help you cover possible living expenses.

 

Frequently Asked Questions on the Ukraine Extension Scheme

Question:

What is this scheme?

Answer:

An application process aimed at Ukrainians who were already in the UK on work, student or visitor visas when the war started in 2022.

 

Question:

Who is eligible?

Answer:

People from one of the three criteria below:

• Applicants must have had permission to stay in the UK on or between 18 March 2022 and 16 November 2023 – the permission does not need to cover the whole period.
• Alternatively, applicants had permission to stay in the UK before 1 January 2022 and that permission has expired.
• Alternatively, they are a child born to a parent who qualifies under the Ukraine Extension Scheme.

 

Question:

I am Ukrainian and have lived in the UK illegally since 2020. Can I apply for the Ukraine Extension scheme?

Answer:

No. Overstayers as of 1 January 2022 are likely to be rejected.

 

Question:

Can I apply to the Ukraine Scheme if I аm not Ukrainian?

Answer:

Applicants to the scheme must be Ukrainian nationals, unless they are applying as part of a family group with their immediate family member who is a Ukrainian national and who qualifies under this scheme.

 

Question:

Do I need to provide evidence of my residence in Ukraine?

Answer:

When you complete the online application form you should provide supporting documents. Applicants to the scheme should upload evidence that they were living in Ukraine before 1st January 2022.

You can upload official documents issued by the Ukrainian authorities, such as utility bills, bank statements, medical letters, mortgage or tenancy agreements, employment letters, or education letters. If you are unable to provide evidence of your residence, you should upload a letter explaining your personal circumstances.