NEW applications for displaced Ukrainians coming to Scotland will be paused for three months this week amid huge demand for the scheme.
According to the Scottish Government, nobody who has already applied will be affected by the change – and the pause will come into force on Wednesday from 9am.
Applications featuring the Scottish Government as sponsor were up 20% on the week prior as of July 5, and the number of visas issued increased by 27%.
Ministers said this boost in demand meant a temporary suspension was required to ensure that safe accommodation can continue to be provided by those already due to travel to Scotland.
More than 20% of the total number of UK via applications have named a Scottish sponsor, and the country is already providing refugee for more than 7000 Ukrainians.
Neil Gray, Scotland’s refugees minister, said Scotland has “risen in solidarity with Ukrainians in their hour of need”.
“We have been able to ensure thousands of people displaced by Russia’s horrific and illegal war were able to travel immediately and receive support and a place to stay without the need to be matched with a private host first,” he went on.
“We will review our position in three months, but of course if circumstances change during that time we will bring that date forward. In the meantime we are taking significant action to increase the capacity of our temporary accommodation and are also boosting our matching system to maximise the number of displaced people placed with volunteer hosts who have completed the necessary safeguarding checks.”
Wales has also paused its own visa scheme for Ukrainian refugees in order to “refine” the arrangements for those coming to the nation, allowing them to “deliver a high standard of support”, the social justice minister said.
