Visa help- Ukraine

[VisaQuestions]

Please excuse the name change- I foresee this getting personal. I think MNHQ can verify me if need, but I hope not needed.

Does anyone have experience of opening visas for family no longer in their home country?

My adult step child is in Poland, having left in a hurry from Ukraine. Obviously I’m seeking advice from many quarters and will try to phone later directly.

I also have my own parents still in Ukraine who may leave.

I have the means and space to support them, and ideally obviously I’d like to bring them here. I’ve had a UK passport for over 10 years, my husband less but has one too now.

Urgent routes are best as they have no means or place to go now they’ve left home, they just went to the border. I’ve only ever opened visitor visas/ sent invites through Kyiv. Is it possible in a third country? They hold no other passports.

Only Britain can issue British visas.

The Ukrainian embassy in Poland will be (or will rapidly become) expert on providing support to displaced Ukrainians, and in signposting how to resettle in third countries, but they won't be able to make it happen

If anyone else is facing this you can apply now at British visa centres in Poland, Romania, Moldova and Hungary.

Ring the helpline on the gov website and they are helpful, you will need to pay by card. Check the requirements before you pay, I’ve just taken a loan to have the amount in my account covered.

Also the family route is now free if you meet the requirements

@VisaQuestions

Parents and other family cannot leave now, the border is blocked and men under 60 cannot leave now anyway.

No bank account access, but can transfer to Polish friends. There’s no realistic other places to stay for various reasons. I don’t really want to send on journeys that deplete reserves.

Tbh, I’m now wondering about long term in Ireland and supporting them in an expensive area. Here I can obviously house them, but I can’t fund a house there too. It’s a good temporary move, but they’ve left their flat in the city and jobs.

If it looks like things are going to take too long from Poland, it is still worth looking at Ireland. I would assume they could apply for refugee status here in Ireland, in which case the government will house and feed them. If you then get visas for the UK, they could withdraw the application and move to the UK.

If your stepchild can get to Ireland and you're not that worried about them entering the UK without a visa for the time being then it's easy to get from Ireland to the UK. She could fly into Dublin, cross into Northern Ireland and get the ferry from there to Scotland without any id checks. In theory she could get the ferry from Dublin to Wales but they do sometimes check ids if there are suspicions about someone.

It would be very expensive to financially support someone to live in Ireland, rents are stratospheric at the moment here. Would she be able to work? I'm not sure about the work permit situation but if she has skills and reasonable English then the job market here is good.

Good luck, hope you are reunited with little drama.

Sorry your family are going through this.
I have no practical advice, but wanted to send my support and solidarity with you and your family.

Does any of this help www.gov.uk/government/news/home-secretary-announces-visa-concessions-for-ukrainians

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar I thought about no Visa. I know people that have. I’m worried about no access to healthcare/ ending up banned from the UK long term. It’s a quick route, but the result could be a long term ban if caught. No ID checks but I presume Covid passport/ vaccine check records? I think it’s a big big risk

I’m looking at the points based switch. She has a Maths masters/ experience in industry and was educated here with us before university. I’m just reading

Good luck OP. I sincerely hope you are all reunited very soon. I can't even imagine how worried you must be.

www.gov.uk/government/news/home-secretary-announces-visa-concessions-for-ukrainians

Not sure if this link is any help.

Just want to wish you luck and I hope your family reach you safely

There are no checks at all as far as I know. There is literally no physical border between Ireland and NI, you just get on the coach at Dublin Airport and whizz through the border on the motorway. Once in NI it's a domestic journey anywhere in the UK.

There are some covid checks flying into Dublin Airport from another country. here

@VisaQuestions I know what you mean. The cost of living here is absolutely outrageous. I hope you get them sorted. Such a difficult time.

Just in case you do look at Ireland, it's subsidiary protection your relatives should apply for. You can get information on that at www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/asylum_seekers_and_refugees/the_asylum_process_in_ireland/applying_for_refugee_status_in_ireland.html

Gosh, no advice but hoping you manage to find a solution very soon. Good luck OP

@OchonAgusOchonOh Ireland seem to be smoothing things for those with family, but it feels an unknown what would happen without support.

I wishBritain would follow their lead.

We’re been sleeping on plans

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar thank you , good to know. No right to be here though for young people is scary future wise, but thank you

[quote VisaQuestions]@OchonAgusOchonOh Ireland seem to be smoothing things for those with family, but it feels an unknown what would happen without support.

I wishBritain would follow their lead.

We’re been sleeping on plans[/quote]
It is a shame the UK won't do the same.

Ireland is not just for those with family - it's for all Ukrainians. Anyone who applies for subsidiary protection is supported while their application is ongoing. It's still direct provision so not exactly luxurious but it is a roof and food.

I hope I don't seem like I'm pushing the option. Obviously you need to decide the best way for you and your family but if you do want to explore it further, feel free to pm me and I will gladly do some research on the process etc for you.

The home office should be able up give advice on what options are available...

@OchonAgusOchonOh it’s getting hard to process things,
If you have info and the time a PM would be very much appreciated

It sounds like the visitor visa is the way to go.

"The Home Office has introduced a temporary concession to allow Ukrainian nationals in the UK on a visitor visa to switch into a points-based route or a family visa route."

From here www.gov.uk/guidance/support-for-family-members-of-british-nationals-in-ukraine-and-ukrainian-nationals-in-ukraine-and-the-uk

What happens if someone on a visitor visa doesn't qualify for the points based visa or a family visa? They can hardly send them back to a war zone

I apologise for those individuals who have made this situation harder for you by voting for Brexit. They are an embarrassment. Stay safe x