Visa rules leave Glasgow's Ukrainian refugees ‘unemployable'
Oleksii Koliukh, 31, and his wife Ana Bohuslavska, 31, came to Scotland when Russia invaded their home near Ukraine's capital of Kyiv.
The couple, who live in Pollok, have spoken of the struggle to find permanent work. They face a similar situation to many Ukrainians who came to Scotland after the war began in 2022 and are now seeing their initial visas expire.
To stay longer, they're applying under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, which lets them live, work, and study in the UK for another 18 months — but it doesn't offer a path to stay permanently.
This situation has left many struggling to secure long-term employment, as the restrictions render them "unemployable".
Oleksii and Ana (Image: Supplied)Oleksii said: 'When the Government announced the visa extension, it didn't change much for us.
'We feel discriminated against compared to other refugees. We also feel unwelcome, as if we don't deserve the chance to stay – despite working, paying taxes, renting or paying a mortgage.
'We know people who want to start businesses here too, even students who don't have enough time to complete their education.'
Software engineer Oleksii was told that he wouldn't be able to proceed with his application for a job recently, as the company consider him only available short-term.
Ana, who's a Videographer, has been actively looking for work for the past year and a half, but says it's been hard due to the temporary visas.
Having now settled in Glasgow's southside, however, they have developed a love for the city, Oleksii said: "The people were incredibly kind when we came here.
"Locals did whatever they could to help, and charities stepped in with essentials like clothes and toiletries. Food banks were also a great help.
'We really enjoy Glasgow – especially the abundance of green spaces and the fantastic museums.'
In a survey conducted among Ukrainian displaced people in early December 2024 by the Ukraine Collective, 57.5% stated that visa uncertainty negatively impacts their ability to find or retain employment.
Olha Maksymiak, an adviser on matters of people displaced from Ukraine in Scotland, said: 'Many face rejections even at the interview stage – if their visa is set to expire soon, securing a permanent contract, undergoing training, or advancing in their profession becomes nearly impossible. It leaves them virtually unemployable on a permanent basis.
'The constant fear of losing their job and housing has left people emotionally exhausted. This is particularly painful for single parents who are trying to provide stability for their children.
'Many are forced to accept temporary jobs far below their qualifications, serving only as a means of earning some income.'
Olha Maksymiak (Image: Supplied)Iryna Lutsyshyn is a qualified lawyer with over eight years of experience and has been looking for a job for the past two and a half years.
The 32-year-old, who's settled in Coatbridge, said: 'In November of last year, I attended an interview for a legal secretary position at a small law firm in Glasgow. The interview went well, and towards the end, my potential employer inquired about my eligibility to work in the UK and the duration of my visa.
'I'm currently allowed to work until July this year and can only apply for a visa extension no earlier than 28 days before its expiration.
'After I explained this, they said that while I was a strong candidate for the role, they required assurance that I could work on a permanent basis.'
This assurance is something that some refugees are unable to provide with the current visa restrictions.
Oleksii and Ana's hometown, Irpin, has been devastated by the war (Image: Supplied)Scottish Greens Justice, Equalities, Social Justice and Human Rights spokesperson, Maggie Chapman MSP, said: 'Ukrainian refugees deserve to be here. Offering no permanent option doesn't just threaten their stability but is an insult to the lives they've built here.
'This short-term extension scheme is a needless barrier, offering no security. It will punish people who are already facing a great humanitarian crisis.
'The war is still not over – they still need somewhere, out of the warzone, to call home.
'If Keir Starmer wants to show that he isn't just Donald Trump's doormat and really does support Ukraine, he'll offer some stability to its refugees with the opportunity to make their UK home permanent.'
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Immigration is a reserved matter for the UK Government. While the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme will give displaced people some stability, what has been announced falls short of what Ukrainians need to overcome the barriers created by short-term visas.
'We support an approach that offers Ukrainians the ability to make informed choices about their future and would encourage them to apply for the extension scheme before their existing visa expires.'
The Home Office refused to comment on the issue.
Oleksii and Ana at a protest (Image: Supplied)Olha added: 'This situation requires not short-term fixes but a clear and long-term strategy.
'Without immediate action, many skilled and hardworking individuals risk being pushed into unemployment and uncertainty, undermining the very purpose of the humanitarian response.'
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