Friend getting worried as her relative has been waiting over 4 months to get the new special visa. The pensioner relative has applied via the visa centre inside the UK, been told there that they'll be prioritised as family, but got nothing so far, and when my friend called the Home Office helpline for all Ukr enquiries, been told rather bizzarely that HO has no control or knowledge of what's going on as it's the Ukr side who goes through all applications! There is no ref number or any number to ring to find out.
If it's a policy that those with currently unexpired visas have to wait till near expiration, why nobody told them? How do they know if the application hasn't been lost or there is some other problem...Meanwhile the older person can't register with a GP or get a bus pass etc as the have no temp resident docs. Friend is the her only relative and is on very tight budget, providing accomodation and everything else which is even ok but she can;t register anywhere.
I just wonder if anyone on here has witnessed the same or has any knowledge,, as it's all smoke and mirrors of sorts! It would just help people to know what to expect, not hoping every day for months too see that email / get a letter.