Latest news with #Settled
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukrainian family reunited after visa changes reversed
In January visa changes which prevented Ukrainians from bringing their children to join them in the UK were reversed, giving hundreds of families hope they could finally be reunited. Ivan Vitsyn and his wife Olesia Aladko had been preparing for months for their children to join them in the UK. The family are from the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine, close to the Russian border, and had left their seven-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter with Ivan's parents while they found a suitable home for them to live. The parents - who came to the UK in May 2023 as strawberry pickers on seasonal worker visas - had planned to act as sponsors for their children under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which allows people in the UK to host those fleeing the war. Originally living in a caravan, it was several months before they found a family home to rent. But in February last year - without warning - the previous Conservative government changed eligibility rules so only British or Irish citizens or those with the right to live in the UK permanently could act as sponsors. "We worked so hard to prepare to reunite with the kids and then overnight we were not able to," says Ivan, speaking through a translator. "The dream was shattered to pieces, we didn't know what to do." Meanwhile, their children were stuck in Ukraine, living alongside the sounds of explosions, just 50km (31 miles) from the battlefield. Ukrainians can bring children to UK as visa changes reversed 'I don't live, I just exist': Ukrainian families torn apart by visa changes Ukraine family visa scheme closes to new applicants The pair tried desperately without success to find a British sponsor for their children. Instead they were faced with scammers asking for thousands of pounds in exchange for their help. Eventually they were put in touch with the charity Settled, which provides help to Ukrainians with the visa process. The charity advised applying for a visa naming themselves as sponsors, despite the new rules, in the hope the Home Office would make an exception. But their application was left in limbo, with no decision, so it could not be challenged. "Every day we checked our email," Ivan says, describing the wait as "painful". Then in January, the government announced it was reversing the changes brought in under the Conservatives, so Ukrainians could once again sponsor their children to join them in the UK. When Ivan and Olesia received an email confirming their children's visas had been approved they were overjoyed. "I cannot explain that feeling," says Ivan. "It was the best feeling in the world." Settled has supported a number of Ukrainian families like Ivan and Olesia, who are now starting to get their applications approved. But others hoping to bring relatives such as siblings or parents remain separated. Although Ukraine has signalled its willingness to enter peace negotiations, with the US pushing for an end to the war, the UK has given Ukrainians the right to apply to stay in the country for a further 18 months. While Ivan hopes his family can return to Ukraine one day, he adds: "Even if the war stopped tomorrow there is no certainty for our region." For Olesia, having her children with her means she can now start to rebuild their lives in the UK. "There is probably no other feeling like having your children beside you. You don't worry; you don't start your day by reading the news about what happened in Ukraine, where there were attacks," she says. "You fall asleep peacefully and wake up peacefully because your children are next to you, and nothing else is needed." Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
BBC News
09-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ukrainian family reunited after visa changes reversed
In January visa changes which prevented Ukrainians from bringing their children to join them in the UK were reversed, giving hundreds of families hope they could finally be Vitsyn and his wife Olesia Aladko had been preparing for months for their children to join them in the UK. The family are from the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine, close to the Russian border, and had left their seven-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter with Ivan's parents while they found a suitable home for them to live. The parents - who came to the UK in May 2023 as strawberry pickers on seasonal worker visas - had planned to act as sponsors for their children under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which allows people in the UK to host those fleeing the war. Originally living in a caravan, it was several months before they found a family home to in February last year - without warning - the previous Conservative government changed eligibility rules so only British or Irish citizens or those with the right to live in the UK permanently could act as sponsors."We worked so hard to prepare to reunite with the kids and then overnight we were not able to," says Ivan, speaking through a translator."The dream was shattered to pieces, we didn't know what to do."Meanwhile, their children were stuck in Ukraine, living alongside the sounds of explosions, just 50km (31 miles) from the battlefield. The pair tried desperately without success to find a British sponsor for their children. Instead they were faced with scammers asking for thousands of pounds in exchange for their help. Eventually they were put in touch with the charity Settled, which provides help to Ukrainians with the visa charity advised applying for a visa naming themselves as sponsors, despite the new rules, in the hope the Home Office would make an exception. But their application was left in limbo, with no decision, so it could not be challenged. "Every day we checked our email," Ivan says, describing the wait as "painful". Then in January, the government announced it was reversing the changes brought in under the Conservatives, so Ukrainians could once again sponsor their children to join them in the UK. When Ivan and Olesia received an email confirming their children's visas had been approved they were overjoyed."I cannot explain that feeling," says Ivan. "It was the best feeling in the world."Settled has supported a number of Ukrainian families like Ivan and Olesia, who are now starting to get their applications approved. But others hoping to bring relatives such as siblings or parents remain separated. Although Ukraine has signalled its willingness to enter peace negotiations, with the US pushing for an end to the war, the UK has given Ukrainians the right to apply to stay in the country for a further 18 months. While Ivan hopes his family can return to Ukraine one day, he adds: "Even if the war stopped tomorrow there is no certainty for our region."For Olesia, having her children with her means she can now start to rebuild their lives in the UK. "There is probably no other feeling like having your children beside you. You don't worry; you don't start your day by reading the news about what happened in Ukraine, where there were attacks," she says."You fall asleep peacefully and wake up peacefully because your children are next to you, and nothing else is needed." Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukrainians can bring children to UK as visa changes reversed
Ukrainians can again bring their children to join them in the UK, after the government reversed changes to visa rules. Last February - without notice - the government restricted eligibility so Ukrainians without the right to live in the UK permanently could no longer sponsor people under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which allows people to host those fleeing the war. Charities said this left families torn apart, with some desperate parents resorting to illegal routes to bring their children to the UK. They welcomed the announcement as a "huge relief" for parents separated from their children but warned it will not help those forced apart from other family members such as siblings or parents. More than 190,000 people have come to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme since it was launched in March 2022, following the Russian invasion. However, since last February only British or Irish citizens, or those with the right to live in the UK permanently, have been able to act as sponsors, who provide somewhere for people to live. This meant Ukrainians living in the UK without permanent residence could no longer sponsor family members to join them in the UK. At the same time the Ukraine Family Scheme, which allowed Ukrainians to join family members who already had permanent residence in the UK, was also closed. 'I don't live, I just exist': Ukrainian families torn apart by visa changes Ukraine family visa scheme closes to new applicants The government has now announced a parent or legal guardian who is in the UK under any of the visa schemes for Ukrainians can apply to sponsor their child under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Dora-Olivia Vicol, chief executive of Work Rights Centre, a charity supporting migrants, said: "It will come as a huge relief to those parents who have been separated from their children, and will finally be able to bring them to the UK to reunite in safety." She added: "However, this action does not help those who have been forced apart from other family members, including siblings, parents or partners. "We know there are many Ukrainians in the UK who left behind elderly, sick or disabled relatives with the belief they would be able to bring them later. They face a cruel choice: leave the safety of the UK to care for them in Ukraine, or remain in safety leaving their loved ones vulnerable at risk." The charity says it has heard from hundreds of Ukrainians separated from family members and trying to bring them to the UK. Settled, another charity which supports Ukrainians applying for visas, said some families had resorted to bringing their children to join them through illegal routes, rather than leave them in danger. Yuliia Ismail, an immigration advisor for the charity, said: "We ask that the Home Office now acts quickly to decide outstanding applications from children stuck in Ukrainian conflict zones some of which have been in limbo for almost a year."
BBC News
31-01-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ukrainians can bring children to UK as visa changes reversed
Ukrainians can again bring their children to join them in the UK, after the government reversed changes to visa February - without notice - the government restricted eligibility so Ukrainians without the right to live in the UK permanently could no longer sponsor people under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which allows people to host those fleeing the said this left families torn apart, with some desperate parents resorting to illegal routes to bring their children to the welcomed the announcement as a "huge relief" for parents separated from their children but warned it will not help those forced apart from other family members such as siblings or parents. More than 190,000 people have come to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme since it was launched in March 2022, following the Russian invasion. However, since last February only British or Irish citizens, or those with the right to live in the UK permanently, have been able to act as sponsors, who provide somewhere for people to live. This meant Ukrainians living in the UK without permanent residence could no longer sponsor family members to join them in the the same time the Ukraine Family Scheme, which allowed Ukrainians to join family members who already had permanent residence in the UK, was also closed. The government has now announced a parent or legal guardian who is in the UK under any of the visa schemes for Ukrainians can apply to sponsor their child under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Dora-Olivia Vicol, chief executive of Work Rights Centre, a charity supporting migrants, said: "It will come as a huge relief to those parents who have been separated from their children, and will finally be able to bring them to the UK to reunite in safety."She added: "However, this action does not help those who have been forced apart from other family members, including siblings, parents or partners."We know there are many Ukrainians in the UK who left behind elderly, sick or disabled relatives with the belief they would be able to bring them later. They face a cruel choice: leave the safety of the UK to care for them in Ukraine, or remain in safety leaving their loved ones vulnerable at risk."The charity says it has heard from hundreds of Ukrainians separated from family members and trying to bring them to the UK. Settled, another charity which supports Ukrainians applying for visas, said some families had resorted to bringing their children to join them through illegal routes, rather than leave them in danger. Yuliia Ismail, an immigration advisor for the charity, said: "We ask that the Home Office now acts quickly to decide outstanding applications from children stuck in Ukrainian conflict zones some of which have been in limbo for almost a year."
