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'Shockingly low' : Just 300 Ukraine refugees get UK visas via new scheme

Tuesday, 08 March 2022 7:44 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 08 March 2022 8:42 AM ]

People flee from Ukraine at the Hungarian-Ukrainian border after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a special military operation, in Beregsurany, Hungary, February 24, 2022. (Photo by Reuters)

The number of Ukrainian refugees issued visas to come to the UK stands at just 300 among 17700 applications, despite British authorities vowing to accept them with open arms.

Ukrainian citizens attempting to flee the crisis-stricken country have expressed utter frustration and anger over bureaucratic hassles and technical difficulties involved in securing a UK visa under the new family scheme.

The UK Home Office said on Monday that more than half of the refugees had not yet completed their application.

However, applicants say it is hard to complete applications as the visa appointment website crashes midway through and they are not able to upload crucial documents.

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said it was “shockingly low and painfully slow.”

As per official figures, nearly 600 refugees are currently stuck in Calais, with many claiming that they were turned away for lack of paperwork.

People in Calais have been told to go to Paris to apply for their visas, according to French officials.

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Meanwhile, the UK Home Office was accused on Sunday of asking newly arrived Ukrainian refugees about their plans to stay in the UK.

The development came after the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel announced last week that the government was set to change visa rules so that more family members can be included and the length of stay could be extended from one to up to three years.

Even the families in the UK, who are trying to open a way through for their relatives, say they are confused by the complexity of application forms, calling the system unfair.

“Instead of persisting with its insistence on visas or sponsorship schemes for traumatized Ukrainians fleeing an active war zone, the UK should be putting in place fast-track refugee arrangements,” Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UK’s refugee and migrant rights director, said in a statement.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson has rejected calls to ease visa requirements, saying it was “sensible” to “have some basic ability to check who is coming in and who isn't.”

The two UK schemes announced so far require Ukrainians either to have family in the UK or have a designated UK sponsor for their application. Only the family scheme is in operation so far.

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