Ukraine war: UK considers widening visa access for refugees

The UK is considering extending access to visas for Ukrainian refugees after criticism that existing routes are too restrictive.

Home Office sources said they were in the early stages of exploring a program to provide humanitarian access to people fleeing the conflict.

This would be sponsored in addition to the programs for people with families in the UK or their applications.

Only 50 Ukrainians with British family ties have been granted visas since the war began.

A senior government source told the BBC that the government is focusing on the two previously announced programs for Ukrainian refugees, but is examining the need for further action.

Europe Secretary James Cleverly defended the government’s record so far, saying visa procedures for refugees were “very recently” put in place.

According to the United Nations, more than 1.7 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia began invading it last month.

Most are in neighboring countries – as the Polish border authorities announced on Monday, more than a million people have now entered Poland.

The UK has steadily increased its visa offer for refugees – but has faced criticism for saying its program is less generous than that of the European Union.

A new route for refugees to apply was first reported by The Sun, which said Home Secretary Priti Patel wanted to ease current visa requirements.

She told the newspaper she is studying “the legal options” to create a humanitarian pathway for those seeking refuge from the conflict.

Visas are currently being offered to relatives of Ukrainians who have settled in the UK – with the range of eligible family members expanding last week.

The Interior Ministry has also previously announced a second route for refugees whose visa applications are sponsored by organisations, companies and municipalities.

A third route could significantly expand the way Ukrainians can apply for protection – although no details have yet been officially confirmed.

The Home Secretary told The Sun she was considering a new route for refugees from Ukraine to the UK.

The first problem was that her comments weren’t entirely clear.

The second problem is that neither Downing Street nor the Foreign Office knew what they were doing.

For this reason, Secretary of State James Cleverly has previously denied on TV and radio that this was on the cards, instead repeating the two routes already announced.

The most charitable explanation for this is that Priti Patel was moved by a recent visit to the region, decided something had to be done, and done quickly, and announced it before any detailed policy work had been done.

A less generous version is that it’s the fog of war in Whitehall, which can be just as intense as it is on the battlefield.

On Sunday, the interior ministry said “around 50” Ukrainians have so far been granted visas under the program for people with family ties — about 1% of the 5,535 people who have applied since the program launched on Friday.

The department added that 11,750 had started the online application by 10:00 GMT Sunday, while 5,535 had completed it and 2,368 had booked a visa appointment to submit their application and biometric information.

On Monday, Mr Cleverly said he didn’t know exactly how many people had applied on existing routes, but the number would increase “very quickly”.

“We will try to be generous in welcoming Ukrainians – both those who have family here and those who don’t,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

He added that there were no “targets or limits” to the number of Ukrainians who could come to Britain.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he added the UK is also providing humanitarian aid to countries bordering Ukraine – adding that most refugees are currently there and “want to stay there”.

France’s Home Secretary Gerald Darmanin wrote to Ms Patel on Saturday that 400 Ukrainian refugees had arrived in Calais to cross the English Channel but 150 had been turned back and instructed to obtain British visas at embassies in Paris or Brussels.

Mr Darmanin said the response to people in distress was “completely inappropriate” and showed a “lack of humanity” and called on the UK to send consular staff in Calais to help Ukrainian refugees cross.

But Ms Patel said it was “wrong to say we are turning people back” and said the Home Office already has people working in Calais to support Ukrainian families.

Vadym Prystaiko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Britain, said the UK was at the “front of efforts” to support Ukraine – but the “maximum” number had to be allowed.

He added that the visa process could be simplified, adding that any issues could be resolved later.

He said any “bureaucratic nonsense” should be eliminated, although he said it was necessary to continue security checks.