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AIBU?

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Original poster

thread for those interested in refugee hosting/sponsorship

1003 replies

EezyOozy · 13/03/2022 07:37

I thought I would start a new thread about this as I have just heard on BBC news that they are opening up a web form tomorrow to express interest. Apparently families/households can claim £350 a month (I assume for increased expenses) and refugees will be eligible to claim or benefits and work. We have large a spare room but live rurally so whilst I will express interest I'm not sure we will be taken up on it.

I thought I would start a new thread for those who are interested and to follow the progress of the registration procedure/how this pans out in practice.

Posted here because it's the only place I know gets plenty traffic, I will probably be asking for this to be moved but don't know where to.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Mistygreyeyes · 23/03/2022 22:44

I think you are heading for big trouble doing this. Someone suggested utilising a refugee as an informal carer for a relative on one of the FB sites. Lots of legal ramifications and really not in the spirit of things was the consensus.

Jaymar · 24/03/2022 04:56

Thanks for the response @Mistygreyeyes. We are hoping to have a video call with her in the next few days so will find out more. I get the impression she won’t want to come without au pair work on the table as this is something she has previous experience in but maybe she’d be open to looking for other types of work over here.

VenusClapTrap · 24/03/2022 05:50

We filled in the visa forms last night for the mum and daughter we are hoping to host. Unfortunately, after submitting it I’ve realised we somehow missed the box where we were supposed to put in her maiden name, so on the confirmation page it says ‘no’ for ever known by any other name. I’m kicking myself. I don’t know whether to start again (argh) or just cross fingers that it won’t matter.

Mouldyfeet · 24/03/2022 06:42

@VenusClapTrap you will need to do it all again. It’s very annoying that you can go back and change anything once it’s submitted.

VenusClapTrap · 24/03/2022 06:42

Aaaaaargh.

Firefliess · 24/03/2022 13:26

Loads of really useful information here from Citizens Advice on the legalities of hosting and support available for Ukrainians mailchi.mp/c2d6c0830611/weekly-update-from-expert-advice-on-23-march?e=dcd063a803&fbclid=IwAR2WyGDvP7zUnHEw7uBjeoElk_Z8VNDRmvRGUs6enLInni4qjV_Hk2yzhiw

VenusClapTrap · 24/03/2022 21:37

I spoke to a nice and super helpful chap on the helpline today. He said there was no need to do the form all over again. If there are any discrepancies or omissions, they will get in touch with people to clarify. He said things are changing daily, so they are having difficulty keeping up with it all but they are doing their very best to get all the applications processed as quickly as they can and they do understand that the refugees don’t always have all the info and documents to hand, and that there are language issues and glitches on their system, and they will work with the sponsors to sort it all out. Expect responses in days not weeks.

Xenia · 24/03/2022 22:34

Just something to check if your teenagers have not had the BCG TB thing is that 24,000 cases of TB in Ukraine although those coming here under the scheme should be checked by the GP www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-60862353

Original poster
EezyOozy · 25/03/2022 10:16

@VenusClapTrap that sounds promising!

OP posts:
Firefliess · 25/03/2022 20:43

Well appears we may have found a match. A woman about my age and her 17 year old dd, which should suit us well. They're trying to find a nearby host for her sister and niece. They seem keen that we do the visa application. Can anyone tell me what we need from them to do that? Is it just passport and proof that they were in Ukraine on 1 January? And what would that be? They're still in Ukraine now, but in Lviv where things are relatively normal currently so I assume should have access to all normal documents.

Shiloh139 · 26/03/2022 01:17

@Firefliess

Well appears we may have found a match. A woman about my age and her 17 year old dd, which should suit us well. They're trying to find a nearby host for her sister and niece. They seem keen that we do the visa application. Can anyone tell me what we need from them to do that? Is it just passport and proof that they were in Ukraine on 1 January? And what would that be? They're still in Ukraine now, but in Lviv where things are relatively normal currently so I assume should have access to all normal documents.
You probably need to be on the phone with them to go through the application together. Only one of you submits it though. It's not just having their passport info but stuff like other names, where were they born, criminal records, have they ever worked in certain industries etc etc. You'd need to ask them all those questions. If they fill it in they will need the names and passport numbers of anyone in your household over 18 (assuming they'll be sharing your family home).
Shiloh139 · 26/03/2022 01:25

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel

Poor woman, what a horrible (and ridiculous) situation to be in. I hope they sort out the cracks in the system asap.

The family we are hosting have had their biometrics appointment at the visa centre and have been told they should hear in about 3 days.

Can I ask why your family need a visa centre appointment? If so, were they able to upload all of the documents needed? If you helped them, are there any tips you can give to me please? The Belarusian lady and her Ukrainian son I'd originally agreed to host got back in contact with me today as they were turned away at the airport from going to France as she needs a visa for there. We filled in the visa application form tonight and then found it really hard to upload her documents on the TLS site and still haven't managed it. I'm hoping she's had an email tonight with an account confirmation link which will then enable me, in the morning, to upload the documents she whatsapped to me. Her English is really good and if it weren't for that, I don't know how we'd have muddled through.

It's great that they've indicated they should hear within 3 days. Hopefully that's true for my family. They're in Turkey and she's having to move every few days to find available accommodation that she can afford.

nanny2012nanny · 26/03/2022 01:37

What about the other refugees from countries we have bombed.
What about our ex service men living on the streets.
What about our food banks?
What about the cost of living crisis in this country?
Media hype and virtue signalling.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 26/03/2022 06:09

@nanny2012nanny

I think that’s unfair as lots goes on behind the scenes. It’s like with BLM and people shouting all lives matter…. Obviously they do

Tulipomania · 26/03/2022 08:14

Have you heard of 'whatabout-ery' nanny2012nanny ?

Firefliess · 26/03/2022 10:08

Thanks @Shiloh

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 26/03/2022 10:46

@Tulipomania

Have you heard of 'whatabout-ery' nanny2012nanny ?
🤣 Hilarious
Thirkettle · 26/03/2022 10:46

@nanny2012nanny

What about the other refugees from countries we have bombed. What about our ex service men living on the streets. What about our food banks? What about the cost of living crisis in this country? Media hype and virtue signalling.
Ex servicemen living on the streets have already rejected countless interventions already in place. Their mental health conditions and addictions are challenges too great for the average person. There are already systems in place to help them. They've refused it.

I don't see how lending a room to a family has anything to do with food banks. People can donate to food banks and also lend a room.

Tulipomania · 26/03/2022 11:23

People can donate to food banks and also lend a room.

And I regularly do so.

Don't really want to get drawn into nanny's stupid argument but I can't help myself.

I have a close family member with mental health problems who is homeless. We don't help him directly because it would fuel his drug problem.

At the time of the Syrian and Afghanistan wars my children were younger and we did not have space at home to offer. We are fortunate to be able to do that now.

Cost of living crisis - a lot of it is directly caused by the war in Ukraine (fuel prices) and I don't see why that prevents us extending the hand of friendship to victims of that war?

As for virtue signalling, I've told almost no-one irl what we are planning to do. But it is helpful to have a thread on here where we are all anonymous and can exchange useful information.

Firefliess · 26/03/2022 11:27

There are schemes to enable people to offer temporary rooms to young homeless people on a temporary basis while they patch things up at home or sort out longer term plans. We've considered them and might offer up our room to them in the future. Having Ukrainians to stay I think will make people more likely (not less) to help others who need a room in the future. But this is a thread specifically about hosting Ukrainians and I think it should stay that way.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 26/03/2022 16:18

Shiloh139 - my prospective guests had to go to the visa centre because the mum is Uzbek and although both her Uzbek passport and her UA permanent residence card have biometrics this apparently doesn’t count so she had to give it again, and also because their 3 children under 5 don’t have passports. I think they had to do biometrics as well Shock

They haven’t yet heard afaik even though it is more than the 3 days.

I didn’t really help much with the forms in the end as I started and got to the end of the first bit which was our information, and emailed the Ukrainians to ask for theirs, and we decided between us it was simpler to give them our information and them do the forms, though we phoned the helpline to clarify about the visa centre. The husband speaks reasonable English.
The helpline was good and was answered quickly so definitely call if you are having trouble.

Original poster
EezyOozy · 26/03/2022 18:27

What about the other refugees from countries we have bombed.
What about our ex service men living on the streets.
What about our food banks?
What about the cost of living crisis in this country?

Hosting a Ukrainian refugee and all of the above are not mutually exclusive. This thread is not about anything other an the practicalities of hosting Ukrainians under the sponsorship program.

OP posts:
Firefliess · 26/03/2022 19:15

If anyone else is struggling with the visa applications, someone on my local FB group sent me this very useful guide. docs.google.com/document/d/1-ZtweSrvtQrmvyGb8EWD06kpHbToV0_V/mobilebasic

Kendodd · 28/03/2022 08:50

We are looking to sponsor two 18 year old girls (not related) they are friends who want to stay together. We have also spoken to their families by zoom. Haven't started process yet.
Would it be better/easier if I sponsor one and my husband the other? They will both live with us in the family home.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 28/03/2022 08:58

It won’t make any difference who sponsors them, if anything I would think the same person doing it would minimise the chance of errors and hence delays.

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