In response to the invasion of Ukraine by Russian armed forces in February 2022, which noticed hundreds of thousands fleeing the nation, the UK had launched immigration choices to Ukrainian nationals looking for security within the UK. These choices embody the Ukraine Household Scheme, the Properties for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme.
The Ukraine Household Scheme allowed eligible Ukrainian nationals to hitch members of the family within the UK. The Properties for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allowed Ukrainian nationals and their members of the family to return to the UK if they’re being sponsored by a UK family. The Ukraine Extension Scheme has been open to Ukrainian nationals and their members of the family who had permission to be within the UK on or between 18 March 2022 and 16 November 2023, and those that beforehand had permission to be within the UK which expired on or after 01 January 2022. The Ukraine Extension Scheme shall be closed on 16 Could 2024.
The federal government has lately introduced varied modifications to the above schemes that are outlined beneath.
The Ukraine Household Scheme is closed
The federal government has closed the Ukraine Household Scheme to new candidates as of 19 February 2024. Ukrainian nationals who want to come to the UK can now not utilise this route to use. Nonetheless, despite the fact that the scheme has closed, Ukrainian nationals who have already got permission to enter or keep underneath this scheme will proceed to have this permission.
Modifications to the Properties for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme
The interval of permission granted underneath the Properties for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme was 3 years. This has been lowered and is now 18 months. The federal government has acknowledged that the brand new 18 months permission granted underneath this scheme “will nonetheless present assurance of a interval of sanctuary within the UK and is extra intently aligned with the interval granted within the EU underneath the EU Momentary Safety Directive”.
As well as, beforehand anybody who had a minimum of six months of go away might act as a sponsor underneath this scheme. This requirement has modified in order that sponsors now should be British, Irish or settled within the UK. This alteration will exclude many from appearing as sponsors together with individuals with a Ukraine Scheme visa. The implication of this alteration implies that regardless of having sufficient lodging accessible, individuals on Ukraine scheme visas can’t be sponsors for members of the family. It’s a on condition that the tightened standards will make it troublesome for some to discover a sponsor that’s British, Irish or settled within the UK.
Modifications to Ukraine Extension Scheme
A optimistic change has been made to the Ukraine Extension Scheme, significantly for kids who’re born within the UK to oldsters with permission underneath one of many Ukraine Schemes. The Ukraine Extension Scheme will stay open to such kids past 16 Could 2024.
New Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme
The federal government has additionally introduced a brand new visa extension scheme and has confirmed that folks with go away underneath one of many Ukraine Schemes will be capable of apply for an additional 18 months of go away. This renewal route is claimed to open early subsequent 12 months and can grant go away underneath the identical phrases and circumstances. Candidates will be capable of apply three months earlier than their current visa is because of expire.
For extra data on the above modifications, please check with our Ukraine FAQs right here.
Settlement within the UK
Eligible candidates underneath the above schemes have been initially granted permission for a interval of 36 months (3 years). As talked about above underneath the brand new Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, people will be capable of apply to increase their preliminary grant of go away for an additional 18 months. It is a whole of 4 years and 6 months of go away within the UK. Coverage makers are conscious of the requirement for five years of authorized and steady residence within the UK as a way to be eligible to use for Indefinite Depart to Stay/Settlement within the UK, underneath most immigration routes. As the full interval of permission Ukrainian nationals can have within the UK falls in need of a 5-year interval, Ukrainian nationals is not going to meet the 5-year residence requirement to be eligible to use for settlement within the UK. The brand new extension scheme due to this fact nonetheless doesn’t present any certainty and questions nonetheless stay on their means to settle or keep within the UK long run.
additional data
For extra data, please see our FAQs on the Ukraine Schemes. In case you are affected by any of the modifications/feedback mentioned on this weblog and require recommendation please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the immigration workforce.
in regards to the authors
Nardos is an immigration advisor (world lead) throughout the company immigration workforce at Kingsley Napley, having joined in August 2017. She primarily assists company shoppers with sponsor licences, Tier 2, naturalisation and EEA purposes, in addition to personal shoppers on Appendix FM instances.
Ilda is a accomplice within the immigration workforce at Kingsley Napley. She is a South African certified legal professional and a British certified solicitor who joined the agency in January 2010. Ilda has greater than ten years of UK company immigration legislation expertise, managing giant firm shoppers in addition to dealing with complicated issues for people, British nationality purposes, appeals, judicial critiques and purposes underneath European Regulation.
