LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Britons with Ukrainian partners have called the visa scheme of the UK for refugees running from the war in Ukraine “a shambles.”
Despite being eligible, Chris Bosworth and Luke Morgan said their wives’ families were still unsure if they could come to the UK.
Yvette Cooper of Labour claimed the UK’s approach was “absolutely chaotic.”
However, Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps stated that the number of persons processed should now rise.
The Ukraine family scheme visa permits persons to join extended or immediate family members in the UK if they have British nationality, indefinite permission to remain, settled status, or proof of permanent residence.
However, MPs claim that many seeking asylum are being held up or turned away by bureaucracy, and they have criticised the Home Office’s response to the problem.
Mr Shapps stated that 760 visas have been issued through the Ukraine Family Scheme, with 22,000 applications “on their way through.”
At Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, Priti Patel, Home Secretary was asked a number of questions regarding the UK’s treatment of Ukrainian refugees, according to a government source, with “everyone” expressing worry.
According to the source: “The process isn’t moving as quickly as it could be. Is the Home Office the correct agency to be in charge of this? Not sure.”
‘Incredibly Upsetting’Â
Mr Morgan told BBC One’s Breakfast that his wife’s family left Ukraine on February 26 and landed in France’s Calais border crossing with the UK on Tuesday, only to be turned away by French police.
They were asked to go to Brussels to provide their biometric data (fingerprint scans and a facial image), after which they were sent to Paris to await the outcome of their application.
“I’m ashamed at the lack of sympathy, at the lack of humanity,” Mr Morgan said when asked about the UK’s attitude to Ukrainian refugees.
“I’m staying with my wife’s parents and sister, who are both elderly. They are eligible to enter the UK, however they are denied entry. It’s a complete disaster, and it’s quite disturbing.”
Mr Bosworth told BBC Radio 4’s Today that his wife’s family departed Kyiv on March 3 and travelled to Lviv, Ukraine, to apply for a visa. However, it was closed when they arrived.
He stated they appeared to be able to schedule a visa application appointment in Prague, the Czech Republic’s capital. Their appointment is set for next Wednesday, and they’re hoping to cross the Ukrainian border in time.
Mr Bosworth claims that his wife’s family is qualified to enter the UK through the Ukraine family scheme visa, but that the Home Office has yet to announce whether their applications will be accepted.
Mr Morgan criticised the “bureaucracy” with which Ukrainians were confronted, noting that many of them knew no English and lacked access to functional phones with which to fill out the forms.
“They haven’t escaped a war in Ukraine with documents, bank statements, and records,” he said.
“The bureaucracy that our administration is attempting to impose on people is ineffective in this situation.”
Image via BBC
