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.

We have the visa! Just got the letter. Applied on the 27th. I was concerned as she had not uploaded my ID, my passport had expired and she made a mistake on the form with my details. I have been shouting into the void for the last two weeks with emails to my MP, the HOU address etc, and had just written a slightly desperate email to Richard Harrington.
So don't give up. I don't know what unblocked it but am delighted for her. Now to sort out travel.

Wonderful Laurel!

I have tried all those except the email to Richard Harrington. Can I find his address easily online?

I’ve looked… did you just use the standard one for all House of Lords members?

[email protected]
I didn't send it. I was about to when my guest WhatsApped me. Shame as I was proud of it. I think I will edit and send it anyway.

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel thanks, no I haven’t registered with the charities yet as didn’t want to until I was ready. But yes you’re right, they might be better at matching.

I might give it another couple of weeks then til it’s all painted as I could probably get I furnished quite quickly if necessary.

I’m just a bit worried about the long term logistics. I’ve seen a few issues starting to pop up ok Facebook groups of the sponsor and the guest not hitting it off , although that may be less of an issue for us as we won’t be living together. Feels like a bit of a minefield.

@SunnyUpNorth - the Ukrainians who arrive will be eligible for UK benefits. So if they do end up staying long term and don't have a job they could move into paying rent and claiming housing benefit/universal credit after six months to a year (the government expects you to offer the accommodation for no rent - just the £350 thank you payment - for at least 6 months, and will pay it up to a year) I've seen quite a lot of FB posts looking for accommodation and the singles and small families seem to find matches much more easily - self contained accommodation would be really appreciated for a larger family. I'd go through a charity in those circumstances - matters less that you really click with them if you're not sharing your home

SunnyUpNorth I did not want to go through Facebook. I registered with a few of the matching charities and waited until someone contacted me.

I have had 3 contacts, the first ones we couldn't help as they are stuck in Crimea with no way to get out, the 2nd one seem like a lovely family - we have done a Zoom call with them, and exchanged lots of photos and messages on WhatsApp - and are going ahead. The 3rd ones sent me a WhatsApp yesterday and I had to tell them we were already progressing with someone else.

Obviously I will delete our profile once the application is actually submitted, but I know that sometimes people change their minds.

Pretty sure we are on day 24 now, on the Facebook groups people have had face has approved this morning so I live in eternal hope.

Four weeks exactly.
This morning 1 person from the 18th March cohort in my local Facebook book and 2 in the group of 10 or so I follow on Twitter were approved. I don’t want to get too excited though as there might have been an effort to get them through on Saturday, working late into the night, so staff can have Easter Sunday and Monday off.

Still no news on my visas but my friend has got 3/4 granted on Saturday. She'd had her local MP involved so I don't know if that made a difference. Also on my local Facebook group, a lady said she knows someone who works in the Home Office and the visa processing staff are working all of the Easter weekend, 24-7, to keep things moving. Seems to be true as a fair few on those groups got their visas this weekend.

They do seem to be working, there have been a couple more on Twitter since I posted earlier.

Not ours though

Someone on my local Facebook group who applied on 6th has just got theirs. Honestly, what the heck do we have to DO?

Ours haven’t come through either, Countess. It’s so frustrating.

I felt sad this morning. I was getting out the Easter eggs for everyone and found the ones I’d bought for our sponsees . They’ll save, I suppose.

I can imagine.
When did you apply?

23rd.

Does anyone know if anyone that visited a VAC and now has a visa ? Because I don't . And I'm on a lot of FB groups.

Yes, in our family of 5 the mum and 3 kids had to do the VAC. The dad didn’t. The two in the family that have their visas are the mum and the middle child.

That's good @TheCountessofFitzdotterel , I still can't believe that they don't process families together!

I know! It must make extra work for them as well.

I have just emailed my MP again though they might not be working till tomorrow.

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel mine said he was off today (last week when he signed off for the bank hol weekend). He only seems to be able to get bits of information, he doesn't seem to be able to influence anything. Still I will take nuggets of information over radio silence.

That is good news @TheCountessofFitzdotterel re the VAC visa being granted although absolutely insane that 2 of the kids' visas are still outstanding when they should all have been processed at the same time. I just cannot understand what must go on in these processing offices.

Still no news here, 23 and 20 days on from submitting our applications. I've just emailed my MP again, asking her to chase and keep chasing. I've also asked my sponsee to check her spam folder, just in case - I'm grasping at straws at this point.

Here's hoping this week more of us will get our visas granted.

For anyone else who is still waiting, there’s a FB Group called ‘Protest Over Visa Applications 18th-24th March. They are gathering names and GWF numbers in a Google doc of all those still waiting from this period. The Independent Newspaper has asked for the list and will be acting on it. Please join the FB group if you can and add your details to the doc.

Thanks for that Venus, I have sent a join request.

Okay so I have been emailing various addresses for updates for literally days now… I just finally got a very standard response from one of the email addresses, but at least it is a response and I know which office handling our case. We are on day 25 and were told about 10 days ago by the MP that our application was in the "final stages".

"This is a standard reply I am sending out for applicants whose cases are being dealt with by the Home Office at Sheffield.
I have had a look at this application which is now being processed.
I am unable to deal with the application myself but I have contacted Sheffield and asked that they progress your case as soon as possible.
The application is still the subject of various data checks.
Please be assured that we are working hard to resolve all applications.
Best wishes
[name removed]
Immigration Support Officer