Change to Ukrainian Family Scheme application process from next Tuesday, 15 March
In the latest change to the Home Office's Ukrainian Family Scheme, Home Secretary Priti Patel told the House of Commons today that Ukrainians with passports will be able to complete the visa application process online and will no longer need to go to a Visa Application Centre to give their biometrics before they come to the UK.
Image credit: WikipediaThe change takes effect next Tuesday, 15 March.
The Home Secretary told the Commons:
"This morning I received assurances which enable me to announce changes to the Ukrainian Family Scheme. Based on the new advice I have received, I am now in the position to announce that vital security checks will continue on all cases.
"From Tuesday, I can announce that Ukrainians with passports will no longer need to go to a Visa Application Centre to give their biometrics before they come to the UK. Instead, once their application has been considered and appropriate checks completed, they will receive direct notification that they are eligible for the scheme and can come to the UK. In short, Ukrainians with passports will be able to get permission to come here fully online from wherever they are and will be able to give their biometrics once in Britain.
"This will mean, Mr Speaker, that Visa Application Centres across Europe can focus their efforts on helping Ukrainians without passports. We have increased the capacity at those centres to over 13,000 appointments per week and this streamlined approach will be operational as of Tuesday the 15th of March in order to make the relevant technology and IT changes.
"I will, Mr Speaker, of course update the House if the security picture changes and if it becomes necessary to make further changes to protect our domestic homeland security. Threat assessments are always changing and we will always keep our approach under review."
Immigration solicitors stressed that this will only apply to people with Ukrainian passports. It will not apply to people with ID cards, despite some news media reporting that it will. The Home Office later confirmed in a press release this evening: "This applies only to passports – not ID Cards – however this will be kept under review, in line with security advice."
Today's change to the Ukraine Family Scheme follows widespread criticism of the Home Office's overly bureaucratic and inadequate response to Europe's fastest-growing refugee crisis since the Second World War. See, for example, the analysis here of the UK's response published yesterday by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).
Labour's shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the House of Commons today that the UK's approach to refugees fleeing Ukraine was shameful and deeply wrong. While Cooper welcomed today's changes, she said they do not yet go far enough.
As reported by BBC News, Ukraine's ambassador to the UK told the Home Affairs Committee yesterday that the UK should scrap visa requirements for Ukrainians.
Asylum Welcome has a summary here of yesterday's evidence session at the Home Affairs Committee. In addition to Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, the Committee heard from representatives from the Refugee Council, the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (ILPA), the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, and the Ukraine Advice Project.