thread for those interested in refugee hosting/sponsorship

[EezyOozy]

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.

That’s great Shiloh.
I get the impression councils are being very pragmatic about this and absolutely trying not to put up barriers. What a shock for you though. Are you ok? This whole thing is very emotional, isn’t it?

Oh that's good to hear @Shiloh. Such a relief not to have to tell your guests they can't come.

I got a response from my MP today to tell me that the daughter’s application has been received and is in the queue. She cannot tell me when it will be processed 🙄. But the mother’s application is still ‘in progress’, which apparently means it’s missing documents. This makes zero sense because when I submitted the applications they both generated the successful application message. I can’t work out how to get back into the applications to try to find out what’s missing, so I need to wait till Dh can help me later on - he’s better at this stuff than me.

Stupid, stupid system. That’s two weeks we’ve lost. If this means the mum’s application has to go back to the back of the queue and start again - well I don’t know how I’ll tell her that.

I am okay now, thanks @TheCountessofFitzdotterel but yes, it took me a little by surprise just how gutted and sick I felt when my husband called to tell me. Trying to keep it in perspective in that it would be nothing compared to how our guests would feel when I told them was no help. It's hard because I'm getting to know this lady and know about her son, and I'm invested in their situation and wanting them to be able to get somewhere safe and more long term than their current situation asap.

Having just read @VenusClapTrap 's update though, I'm not filled with confidence.

Venus - please remind me, did you ever try and log back in to track progress of the mum's visa application, and if so what did it say? Lots of people have had issues with documents uploading but seemingly then disappearing. I really hope you're able to resubmit it and get it to go through smoothly.

@VenusClapTrap

I got a response from my MP today to tell me that the daughter’s application has been received and is in the queue. She cannot tell me when it will be processed 🙄. But the mother’s application is still ‘in progress’, which apparently means it’s missing documents. This makes zero sense because when I submitted the applications they both generated the successful application message. I can’t work out how to get back into the applications to try to find out what’s missing, so I need to wait till Dh can help me later on - he’s better at this stuff than me.

Stupid, stupid system. That’s two weeks we’ve lost. If this means the mum’s application has to go back to the back of the queue and start again - well I don’t know how I’ll tell her that.

Well that sounds like it might be similar to what happened to ours. If so I was advised by the helpline that there isn’t a way to add a document unless you ask the MP to ask the UKVI to ask you for the document. My MP’s helpful assistant then said I could send it to her and she could send it directly, so that’s what we did yesterday. Today the application progressed 2 steps further, going from ‘biometric enrollment done’ to ‘application received by DMC’. I have no idea whether this means it will be done tomorrow or another fortnight since I don’t know what the DMC and VAC each do and how long each step takes.

How are you able to see the status of your application? When I log in I just get to a page that tells me to submit documents if I've not already done so. I have done and when I click on the link it takes me through to the commercial partner's website where I can see that I've submitted everything fine. But on neither website can I see the status of the application

It was our Ukrainian sponsee who submitted it and he has sent us screenshots when something changes so I haven’t seen the URL but he said it’s the visa centre site. It’s something to do with TLS.

It is of course possible that as none of this has been thought through and planned, people who have had to go to the visa centre and submit biometric information can see a tracking page but nobody else can…

Looks like this

Thanks. I definitely can't see anything like that. Mine have passports so they don't need to go to the biometrics centre. I also gave their email addresses as the place to contact when the visas come through so it's possible they get some kind of updates? They've not mentioned them though

I can’t see any way of tracking updates either. We went back into the applications tonight and re-uploaded all the mum’s docs. It still looks the same, and the same as the daughters, so I don’t understand why the daughter’s application had gone through but not the mum’s. I’ve emailed my MP again and asked her to confirm it has now gone through so I don’t have to wait another two weeks to find out nothing has happened. I used words like “appalling” and asked her to suggest what I might say to my sponsees.

Ok from what people are saying on one of the Facebook groups it does indeed look like the tracker is available if you have had to go to the VAC, otherwise not.

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel

Ok from what people are saying on one of the Facebook groups it does indeed look like the tracker is available if you have had to go to the VAC, otherwise not.

That makes sense. It does look to be tracking the process of getting the biometrics done. Sadly I think the completion of that process might just be that the application is then submitted and they sit in the same queue as everyone else with no indication of where they are in the process or timescales.

I think that’s probably right, the question is whether the MP getting involved will get them moving. The idea that things have been done in queue order is clearly nonsense.

Someone on Facebook was asking ‘once the first three steps turn green how long till the rest do?’ and someone else replied that they have their visas but the rest of the tracker never went green.

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel

It was our Ukrainian sponsee who submitted it and he has sent us screenshots when something changes so I haven’t seen the URL but he said it’s the visa centre site. It’s something to do with TLS.

It is of course possible that as none of this has been thought through and planned, people who have had to go to the visa centre and submit biometric information can see a tracking page but nobody else can…

It's great that their application is progressing. I cannot log into my Belarusian sponsee's TLS application (I submitted it for them) so I'm glad someone has managed to as it shows it must be possible, somehow! She went to a VAC 8 days ago but we're getting the same message when we log into the UK visa page as others - you need to submit documents to complete your application. But I've already done that. I know they uploaded for her as the VAC centre staff could see everything on the system.

Emailed our MP yesterday to see if she can find out whether any documents are missing or not.

@VenusClapTrap

I can’t see any way of tracking updates either. We went back into the applications tonight and re-uploaded all the mum’s docs. It still looks the same, and the same as the daughters, so I don’t understand why the daughter’s application had gone through but not the mum’s. I’ve emailed my MP again and asked her to confirm it has now gone through so I don’t have to wait another two weeks to find out nothing has happened. I used words like “appalling” and asked her to suggest what I might say to my sponsees.

Thanks @VenusClapTrap I also emailed my MP yesterday asking if they can find out whether it's been properly submitted or not with the uploaded documentation safely received. I'm not feeling confident at all that it will go smoothly.

I get the same as you @shiloh. But on the site where you submit the documents (which I can see are there) there is notification saying that Ukrainians need to upload the "information page" from passports. Does anyone know if that's the photo page? We uploaded the photo pages but nothing else (that was all they sent me) The notification appears to be generic rather than directed at our applications specifically

@Firefliess

I get the same as you *@shiloh*. But on the site where you submit the documents (which I can see are there) there is notification saying that Ukrainians need to upload the "information page" from passports. Does anyone know if that's the photo page? We uploaded the photo pages but nothing else (that was all they sent me) The notification appears to be generic rather than directed at our applications specifically

Yes I'm pretty certain the information page is the photo page. That's what I uploaded anyway and for sites in the UK when I've had to uploaded an image of my passport, that's what they've needed.

My guests have just told me they've received notifications today saying that the applications are "pending" Does anyone know what that means or how long it might take from here?

@Firefliess Did they perhaps get this email? I think a lot of people got this today.

GOV.UK

Home Office

English

Many thanks for your recent application through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. This message is to keep you updated on progress.

We have received thousands of applications submitted to one of the fastest and largest visa programmes in UK history.

We know how important each individual case is. We are processing the paperwork as quickly as possible and extra case workers have been brought in to help.

They are also carrying out vital security checks for each application. These checks are important to keep people safe in the UK and protect people making journeys from Ukraine, who may be at risk.

Applications are normally processed in date order from when your documents were uploaded, or after your appointment at a visa application centre. We are working seven days a week, but it will take some time before we can issue decisions to everyone who has applied. We know that some applicants have been waiting for nearly three weeks for their application to be processed and we are working to resolve this and continue to speed up the processing of applications.

We will keep you up to date.

If you have not uploaded your passport image or your sponsor identity documents (required for every adult in the sponsor’s household if you will be living in the same property), please do so now; you can upload photos and documents as PDF files using a computer or your smartphone; there is guidance on line at: Apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). If you are required to visit a Visa Application Centre to submit your biometric data (as the applicant is not in possession of a valid international passport), please arrange an appointment to do this as soon as possible. Your application will begin as quickly as possible only when we have this information, which means that our processing will be delayed if you don’t provide it.

If you have any questions about the scheme or require any further information you can call the free 24/7 helpline on +44 808 164 8810 (0808 164 8810 from within the UK). If you cannot contact UK 0808 numbers, please use +44 (0)175 390 7510.

Ukrainian

Дуже дякуємо за вашу нещодавню заявку за схемою «Дім для України». Це повідомлення надіслано, щоб тримати вас в курсі прогресу.

Ми отримали тисячі заявок, поданих на одну з найшвидших і найбільших візових програм в історії Великобританії.

Ми знаємо, наскільки важливий кожен індивідуальний випадок. Ми оформляємо документи якомога швидше, і на допомогу були залучені додаткові працівники.

Вони також проводять важливі перевірки безпеки для кожної заяви. Ці перевірки важливі, щоб забезпечити безпеку людей у Великобританії та захистити людей, які подорожують з України, які можуть бути в зоні ризику.

Заявки зазвичай обробляються в хронологічному порядку, починаючи з моменту завантаження ваших документів або після вашої зустрічі у візовому центрі. Ми працюємо сім днів на тиждень, але потрібен деякий час, перш ніж ми зможемо прийняти рішення для всіх, хто подав заявки. Ми знаємо, що деякі заявники чекали майже три тижні на обробку їхньої заявки, і ми працюємо над вирішенням цієї проблеми та продовжуємо прискорювати обробку заявок.

Ми будемо тримати вас в курсі.

Якщо ви не завантажили зображення свого паспорта або документи, (обов’язково для кожного дорослого в родині спонсора, якщо ви будете проживати в тому самому будинку), що посвідчують особу спонсора, будь ласка, зробіть це зараз; ви можете завантажувати фотографії та документи у вигляді PDF-файлів за допомогою комп’ютера або вашого смартфона; є інструкції на сайті: Apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Якщо вам потрібно відвідати Візовий центр для подання біометричних даних (оскільки заявник не має дійсного закордонного паспорта), будь ласка, назначте зустріч, щоб зробити це якомога швидше. Ваша заявка розпочнеться якомога швидше, лише коли ми отримаємо цю інформацію, а це означає, що наша обробка заяви буде затримана, якщо ви не надасте цю інформацію.

Якщо у вас виникли запитання щодо схеми або вам потрібна додаткова інформація, ви можете зателефонувати на безкоштовну цілодобову гарячу лінію за номером +44 808 164 8810 (0808 164 8810 з Великобританії). Якщо ви не можете зв’язатися з номерами Великобританії 0808, будь ласка, використовуйте +44 (0)175 390 7510.

Russian

Большое спасибо за вашу недавнюю заявку по схеме «Дома для Украины». Это сообщение предназначено для того, чтобы держать вас в курсе прогресса.

Мы получили тысячи заявлений, поданных на одну из самых быстрых и крупных визовых программ в истории Великобритании.

Мы знаем, насколько важен каждый отдельный случай. Мы обрабатываем документы как можно быстрее, и для помощи привлечены дополнительные работники.

Они также проводят жизненно важные проверки безопасности для каждого заявления. Эти проверки важны для обеспечения безопасности людей в Великобритании и защиты людей, путешествующих из Украин

I'm not sure if that's what they got. They sent it to me in a format my phone can't open. They said it said it was pending, which isn't mentioned in that email so possibly not. That email looks like a very generic holding email and trying to stop people hassling them for updates. It's pretty crap though isn't it?

Yeah it's bollocks.

The letter is a disgrace.
Note this part here:

‘If you have not uploaded your passport image or your sponsor identity documents (required for every adult in the sponsor’s household if you will be living in the same property), please do so now; you can upload photos and documents as PDF files using a computer or your smartphone; ‘

It is saying ID documents need to be uploaded for ALL adults living in the house. This contradicts the form which asks for ID for sponsor and passport numbers for the rest.

It says you can add documents to the application, which you can’t.

People report calling the helpline and being told the letter is wrong. However, how do we know the people who sent out the letter didn’t also preside over our applications being put on hold?
It has added a load more stress.

I am tearing my hair out. My passport has expired (so it would not accept the details even though apparently expired passports were acceptable) and our guest didn't upload my driver's license to the website when she completed her form. I can't get any sense out of the helpline or my MP who promised to "look into it" a week ago. I'm hoping this new email means people can upload new documents to their application (they couldn't before) but Twitter suggests that's not working. I am so anxious and frustrated; this is an embarrassment and the government should be ashamed of themselves.

Put on hold for not having other adult id, that is.

Laurel, I am stressed about the passport thing too as mine is off being renewed and my driving licence has a spelling mistake.

I am even angrier about this mess than I am about the turnaround time. The turnaround- well maybe people are doing their best and don’t have enough resources. But giving out contradictory information is inexcusably incompetent.