Visa schemes in UK leave Ukraine’s war refugees in limbo
Lidiia, a 36 -year -old Ukrainian refugee, faces the possibility of returning to his homeland, where the war fell to the homeland after rebuilding his life in England. He is now afraid that the lack of an open road for permanent residence, who escaped from Ukraine with his newborn and his child in 2022, will force him next year.
“Even if they say it’s a ceasefire … I will be back in my mind in five, six years.” He said. “And then my son has to be a soldier. My daughter can be killed or raped.”
Lidiia, who requested anonymity to maintain its privacy, has been among the 218,000 Ukrainians who have taken refuge in England under special visas since 2022.
When the first visa is over and only 18 months of extension is presented, it remains unclear.
According to the 2024 National Statistics Office (Ones) survey, about 70 percent of Ukrainians in the UK wants to remain, but without a clear legal status, many may be forced to take refuge or return to their homeland.
Ukraine and the citizens to return to return – last December to facilitate the return of approximately 7 million citizens created the Ministry of National Unity – and the permanent re -settlement process, the UK, Lidiia fell into the trap.
He says that their children feel more British than Ukraine and have close ties with their communities in Northern England.
“I want to stay 100 percent in the UK. If England does not want us to stay, I will go back to Ukraine and I just hope we will survive. There is no other option.” He said.
‘Make a choice for people’
Britain has two visa plans for Ukrainian refugees: for those who have already been families in the UK – now a closing route – Ukraine sponsorship houses, which allow Britain to offer accommodation to those who escaped from the war.
In February of this year, the government opened a 18 -month Ukrainian protection extension visa to people who need to expire this year.
However, none of these plans offer a permanent option and the Ministry of the Interior or the Ministry of Interior has not yet proposed more visa extension.
“Our temporary shelter proposal is compatible with the strong desire of the Ukrainian government for the future return of the citizens of the Ukrainian government,” a commented comments with a home office spokesman E -Posta. ” He said.
Ukrainian Support Aid Opora said that Ukrainians should have the option to re -settle in the UK, for example, to help to rebuild Ukraine by sending them back.
“Ukraine, of course, must return to reconstruct, but it turns off the options, and so forcing people to return does not create a happy return.
Re -Settlement Way?
In early June, the European Commission proposed to provide temporary protection for approximately 4.26 million Ukrainian refugees in the European Union until March 2027.
In addition, it is recommended that member states, for example, work permits and student visas, to begin to pass those who wish to stay in other legal situations.
The settlement, a charity that supports EU citizens and Ukrainians in the UK, urged London to follow an extension visa from 18 to 36 months and to increase the prospects of settlement, as for the Afghans and Hong Konggers.
“Ukrainians should be given a way for the settlement. We have children born and growing in England. English is the first language.” He said.
Despite a record -participant, he said he had seen an increase in the Ukrainians who wanted to apply for asylum, because they would have been able to remain indefinitely if they were successful.
According to official data, in the first quarter of 2025, Ukrainians had approximately 380 asylum claims in all 2024 compared to 570 and about 100 years.
Ismail, “This uncertainty pushes people into the shelter system.” He said.
Squeezed in Limbo
Even in a 18 -month visa extension, charity institutions cannot secure rental accommodation or employment contracts due to uncertainty on their final status.
He said that more than one -third of the Ukrainians who participated in the survey by Ones in 2024 were looking for a job, and only one third said they were working in the same sector as in Ukraine.
The British Red Cross said that the February report could not rent many Ukrainian property and that he was twice as homelandless than the general population.
Maria, a 40 -year -old mother of Kiev, who lives in Scotland, said that she could not find teaching, despite her re -training to obtain local qualities and applied for about 100 jobs.
Maria, who used a pseudonym for confidentiality, said employers were not interested in hiring Ukrainians for longer term jobs.
“This really upsets me. We can’t get anything new for our house like a wardrobe, even an extra spoon. What do we do if we need to leave? Daily life is just unstable. I can’t imagine what tomorrow will happen.” He said.
