Ukrainians refugees with families in the UK will be able to live, work and claim benefits in Britain for three years in what amounts to another Tory climbdown.
Priti Patel announced the change after initially stating that Ukrainian relatives of people in the UK would be given leave for “an initial period of 12 months”.
But with over one million on the move out of Ukraine and the EU announcing a far more generous scheme where people could stay for three years with no family ties, the Tory Home Secretary extended Britain’s offer to those fleeing Russia’s invasion.
Patel has changed the UK scheme to give all those eligible three-year visas, not one-year. They could be allowed to stay beyond three years under future rules.
Application fees will be waived and unlike other migrants, Ukrainians will not need to pay the £624-a-year Immigration Health Surcharge to use the NHS.
But the scheme remains only for family members of people who are already British nationals or settled in the UK.
There will separately be an employer sponsorship route for firms to bring in Ukrainians with no family ties to the UK, but this has not yet launched.
Patel visited Poland’s border with Ukraine on Friday to highlight the visas on offer.
She told reporters: “That scheme is live, that is now working, that’s up and running.”
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine but also with our dear friends here in Poland, who are working really night and day, we can all see this, under incredible circumstances.”
The government claim up to 200,000 could be eligible for the UK scheme but ministers admit they do not know how many will apply.
The full family visa scheme allows applications from immediate family and extended family including grown-up children or their parents, grandparents, grandchildren or partners’ grandchildren, and brothers and sisters.
Labour and the SNP have called for a visa waiver for applicants, which Patel rejected due to security risks.
Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “People need a simple and safe route to sanctuary right now. Most want to stay close to home, especially those who have had to leave relatives behind, but the UK must play its part to help people seeking support and safety in our country too.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
