Latest news with #UkrainePermissionExtensionScheme
Glasgow Times
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow Times reporter wins prestigious award
Donald Erskine was crowned winner of the local media category for the Refugee Festival Scotland Media Awards 2025. The winners and runners up were announced at a ceremony in Glasgow on Wednesday, June 11 as their work was celebrated for showcasing powerful storytelling and highlighting the everyday realities for those seeking safety. READ NEXT: I Kissed A Boy stars talk Dannii Minogue, favourite Glasgow spots and representation (Image: Images supplied) Donald took home the top prize for his article on Oleksii Koliukh, 31, and his wife Ana Bohuslavska, 31, who came to Scotland when Russia invaded their home near Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. The couple, who live in Pollok, spoke to Donald about their struggle to find permanent work. To stay longer in the country, Oleksii and Ana were in the process of 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. Donald's article reported on the couple's experience, whilst highlighting the issues refugees experience as they try and find a safe space to call home. You can read the full article HERE The judges of this years entries were Alison Phipps, chair of UNESCO-RIELA at the University of Glasgow, Larry Bottinick from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Nick McGowan-Lowe from the National Union of Journalists, Elahe Ziai from IMIX, and Johannes Gonai from Pachedu. READ NEXT: Inside the TRNSMT-inspired rave for Glasgow teenagers Hamish Morrison, reporter for the Glasgow Times' sister title, The National, also scooped up the top prize in the news category for his article on Hyab Yohannes. Yohannes, a refugee who fled Egypt against the threat of organ-harvesting kidnappers, compared the riots which spread across England last August to the horrors he left behind in Africa. You can read Hamish's full article HERE The Scottish Refugee Council said: "In an increasingly polarised world, accurate, responsible reporting on refugee and asylum issues is crucial. Last summer, racist riots swept across the UK, creating fear in refugee and migrant communities. "Good journalism can help counter toxic narratives and harmful misconceptions about forced migration. That's why we team up with the National Union of Journalists each year to host the Media Awards. "Thanks so much to everyone who entered work, every person who shared their story and every journalist who helps amplify the voices of people from refugee backgrounds." The full list of winners and runner ups can be found by visiting,
The National
27-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
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.'
Glasgow Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
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, 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.'
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukrainians lose out on jobs and homes over visa uncertainty
Ukrainians in the UK are losing out on job opportunities and homes because of uncertainty over how long they will be allowed to stay in the country. They were initially given the right to live and work in the UK for three years and can apply for an 18-month extension 28 days before their original visa expires. The government said this provided "certainty and security". But some Ukrainians have told the BBC that employers are reluctant to hire them or landlords will not rent to them because their visa is due to expire. One survey of 1,133 Ukrainians in Britain suggested 41% had lost a new job opportunity because of visa uncertainty, while 26% said their tenancy was not renewed. Researchers from the University of Birmingham also found 22% of respondents said a job contract was not renewed, while 24% said they could not sign a new tenancy. Ukrainian family reunited after visa changes reversed The county that became a hotspot for Ukrainian refugees Arrivals spiked after the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which allows people in the UK to host those fleeing the war, was launched on 14 March 2022. At the peak in May that year, more than 10,000 Ukrainians a week came, with a total of 300,000 offered sanctuary to date, according to the Home Office. People were initially given the right to stay for three years, meaning the bulk of visas are due to expire in the coming months. The Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme opened on 18 February. The government says Ukrainians retain their existing rights to live and work in the UK while a decision is being made on whether to extend their visa, which can take up to eight weeks. However, charities say in practice some Ukrainians who are in the process of extending their visa or only have a few months left are struggling to find jobs or rental properties. Mila, who lives in Atherstone, Warwickshire, with her 14-year-old daughter, is waiting for her visa extension to be approved. The family must leave their flat by 25 April as it is being sold by the landlord. She had planned to move to a flat closer to her job at a salon in Nuneaton but the agent told her she could not sign a six-month tenancy because her visa is due to expire on 12 April. Mila said she had tried a number of different agents without success because of her visa status. She told the BBC she was worried about the prospect of being left without anywhere to live, adding: "I can't sleep at night." Tatiana - not her real name - struggled to find a new job after her contract as a lab technician ended, despite being highly qualified. Over a six-month period she says she was refused for around six jobs because her visa was due to expire in July, with prospective employers citing uncertainty over whether her right to work in the UK would be extended. One company asked her to apply for a visa extension immediately, but she was unable to because of rules stating applications can only be made 28 days before the original visa expires. Tatiana, who has two sons aged 11 and 16, told the BBC the situation left her suffering from anxiety, for which she was prescribed medication by her GP. Although she has now secured a new job, Tatiana still feels worried about her future. "It's incredibly frustrating to feel trapped in this cycle," she said. "[My employer] would love to offer a longer-term position, but the visa situation prevents it. "We are all in a tough position, and I wish we had at least some certainty about the future." Olena - not her real name - arrived in the UK with her daughter, who is now 15, in April 2022 and their visas have recently expired. She applied for an extension more than three weeks before the expiry date but they are still waiting for this to be approved. Olena is a housekeeper at a hotel but her employer initially told her she could not work after her visa expires and would have to take annual leave. She also receives universal credit as she can only work limited hours due to health problems. With her visa due to expire, her caseworkers wrote to her warning her benefits could be stopped, causing her further anxiety. Rights to claim benefits remain while a visa decision is pending, according to government guidance. Olena was only able to persuade her employer she could continue to work with help from the charity Settled, which also helped her to provide the necessary information to ensure her benefit payments continued. Others told the BBC they had been informed by universities they would have to pay international fees as their visa was due to expire before the course began. This is despite government guidance stating that those on visa schemes for Ukrainians should be treated as "home" students, who are eligible for financial support and domestic fees. Settled said it had also seen an increasing number of technical issues which had left Ukrainians unable to prove their visa status or progress their applications for an extension. It said an automatic visa extension would avoid these issues. Simone Schehtman, who runs the Birmingham for Ukraine support group, said currently most visa extensions were being approved within a couple of weeks but there was concern that in the coming months the volume of applications could overwhelm the system. "We've got about 100,000 Ukrainians about to submit their [extension application]," said Ms Schehtman. "It's a complete disaster." A government spokesperson said: "We are fully committed to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Putin's illegal war, while also providing a safe and secure haven for those fleeing the conflict." The spokesperson added that the visa extension scheme allowed "a continuation of rights to work, live and study as well as access to healthcare and welfare support in the UK". 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
28-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Ukrainians lose out on jobs and homes over visa uncertainty
Ukrainians in the UK are losing out on job opportunities and homes because of uncertainty over how long they will be allowed to stay in the were initially given the right to live and work in the UK for three years and can apply for an 18-month extension 28 days before their original visa expires. The government said this provided "certainty and security".But some Ukrainians have told the BBC that employers are reluctant to hire them or landlords will not rent to them because their visa is due to survey of 1,133 Ukrainians in Britain suggested 41% had lost a new job opportunity because of visa uncertainty, while 26% said their tenancy was not renewed. Researchers from the University of Birmingham also found 22% of respondents said a job contract was not renewed, while 24% said they could not sign a new tenancy. Arrivals spiked after the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which allows people in the UK to host those fleeing the war, was launched on 14 March 2022. At the peak in May that year, more than 10,000 Ukrainians a week came, with a total of 300,000 offered sanctuary to date, according to the Home Office. People were initially given the right to stay for three years, meaning the bulk of visas are due to expire in the coming months. The Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme opened on 18 government says Ukrainians retain their existing rights to live and work in the UK while a decision is being made on whether to extend their visa, which can take up to eight weeks. However, charities say in practice some Ukrainians who are in the process of extending their visa or only have a few months left are struggling to find jobs or rental who lives in Atherstone, Warwickshire, with her 14-year-old daughter, is waiting for her visa extension to be approved. The family must leave their flat by 25 April as it is being sold by the landlord. She had planned to move to a flat closer to her job at a salon in Nuneaton but the agent told her she could not sign a six-month tenancy because her visa is due to expire on 12 April. Mila said she had tried a number of different agents without success because of her visa status. She told the BBC she was worried about the prospect of being left without anywhere to live, adding: "I can't sleep at night." Tatiana - not her real name - struggled to find a new job after her contract as a lab technician ended, despite being highly qualified. Over a six-month period she says she was refused for around six jobs because her visa was due to expire in July, with prospective employers citing uncertainty over whether her right to work in the UK would be company asked her to apply for a visa extension immediately, but she was unable to because of rules stating applications can only be made 28 days before the original visa expires. Tatiana, who has two sons aged 11 and 16, told the BBC the situation left her suffering from anxiety, for which she was prescribed medication by her GP. Although she has now secured a new job, Tatiana still feels worried about her future."It's incredibly frustrating to feel trapped in this cycle," she said. "[My employer] would love to offer a longer-term position, but the visa situation prevents it. "We are all in a tough position, and I wish we had at least some certainty about the future."Olena - not her real name - arrived in the UK with her daughter, who is now 15, in April 2022 and their visas have recently expired. She applied for an extension more than three weeks before the expiry date but they are still waiting for this to be approved. Olena is a housekeeper at a hotel but her employer initially told her she could not work after her visa expires and would have to take annual leave. She also receives universal credit as she can only work limited hours due to health problems. With her visa due to expire, her caseworkers wrote to her warning her benefits could be stopped, causing her further anxiety. Rights to claim benefits remain while a visa decision is pending, according to government guidance. Olena was only able to persuade her employer she could continue to work with help from the charity Settled, which also helped her to provide the necessary information to ensure her benefit payments continued. Others told the BBC they had been informed by universities they would have to pay international fees as their visa was due to expire before the course began. This is despite government guidance stating that those on visa schemes for Ukrainians should be treated as "home" students, who are eligible for financial support and domestic fees. Settled said it had also seen an increasing number of technical issues which had left Ukrainians unable to prove their visa status or progress their applications for an extension. It said an automatic visa extension would avoid these Schehtman, who runs the Birmingham for Ukraine support group, said currently most visa extensions were being approved within a couple of weeks but there was concern that in the coming months the volume of applications could overwhelm the system. "We've got about 100,000 Ukrainians about to submit their [extension application]," said Ms Schehtman. "It's a complete disaster."A government spokesperson said: "We are fully committed to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Putin's illegal war, while also providing a safe and secure haven for those fleeing the conflict."The spokesperson added that the visa extension scheme allowed "a continuation of rights to work, live and study as well as access to healthcare and welfare support in the UK". 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.
