How to check potential Ukrainian refugees

[Where to next?]

I recently registered with a charity to accommodate Ukrainian refugees. I found the details of the charity on one of the Fun threads but can’t find the original discussion so can’t add my questions to the thread.

Following the registration last week, I’ve been contacted today by a couple who would like to take us up on our offer. I’m going to commence discussions with them to find out more about the couple but was just wandering if any other Funsters have also registered and if they’ve had any contact from potential refugees. If so, can you share your experience such as what questions you went through to ensure they met your/the government‘s requirements. I feel awful questioning their authenticity but if we’re going to let strangers into our home when there will be times we’re away in the MH, we need to be as comfortable as we can be that everything is above board and they’re not just opportunists. One concern is that their Facebook and Instagram profiles look like they're enjoying a comfortable life, but of course the photos and posts will have been in the past I.e. before the invasion commenced. Another question is why the 25 year old male (they’re a couple with the partner being 26) is looking to flee the country rather than stay and defend).

Please don’t respond questioning why we’re making the offer but any constructive advice based on your thoughts and experience would be most helpful.

 

[haganap]

I have found our refugees, they are 40 something granny, 27 year old daughter/mother and 2 year old girl.
We intend to fill the form out on Wednesday when I should have a Ukrainian national who I will commandeer from the Uni I work at.
From what I can work out so far, they need to scan their passports and have a record of some description that they lived in Ukraine on 1st January.
Unless anyone knows different, I think we have it covered for the form filling, but willing to take advice (such as does the 2 year old need a passport or have to go to a vaccination centre)
Our cunning plan is to go on holiday on Saturday for 12 days and when they get their letter of acceptance, they will leave, they will take 2 days just to get across Ukraine before trying to get through to Poland then make their way to Belgium where we are on holiday. Then we can bring them back by just adding them to our Eurotunnel ticket.

I was probably on the same FB group as haganap with similar experiences and views. (Be careful of the dog as I think they have to Q3 and half months ! though believe it is free)
If i can get clever I will screenshot each page of the visa filling out process. (I have just put this request onto the FB page)

To clarify some of the males coming over, if they have a disability, or more than 3 children they are exempt. Personally, a male coming over to me suggests they may not go back so much happier with 3 generations of females, but I understand it should not be the correct thought process, just an honest one.

i have joined an organization called Opora which is meant to help. I have a friend of a friend with a "Russian" wife sad as that may be who is also looking to get help for some of her Ukrainian friends. I have come across a Mother of 23 and a 4 year old daughter desperately trying to escape but they are finding it difficult due to where they are. I have agreed to sponsor them but they have other offers too and it seems London is a huge draw for many and obviously I can see why.

 

[suavecarve]

i have joined an organization called Opora which is meant to help. I have a friend of a friend with a "Russian" wife sad as that may be who is also looking to get help for some of her Ukrainian friends. I have come across a Mother of 23 and a 4 year old daughter desperately trying to escape but they are finding it difficult due to where they are. I have agreed to sponsor them but they have other offers too and it seems London is a huge draw for many and obviously I can see why.

I ve just filled out the first 22 questions on the form in 21 minutes including 4 passports for the 4 adults that live here.

So far so good. The application is saved so not quite as bad as some people are making out.

Some are trying to get to Manchester, that might cause more interest for you

 

[Kirsten]

Following the registration last week, I’ve been contacted today by a couple who would like to take us up on our offer. I’m going to commence discussions with them to find out more about the couple but was just wandering if any other Funsters have also registered and if they’ve had any contact from potential refugees. Another question is why the 25 year old male (they’re a couple with the partner being 26) is looking to flee the country rather than stay and defend).

Please don’t respond questioning why we’re making the offer but any constructive advice based on your thoughts and experience would be most helpful.

Hi W to Next. We have also registered everywhere , and I had a reply on a whats app from someone on F book -allegedly a Ukrainian student who said she was setting up links to Ukranian families . Reply arrived at 7 am and said she had a couple similar ages as yours - who wanted to work, knew the area and had worked as fruit pickers before. As males cannot leave Ukraine [as far as I know ] I fear this couple are looking for free lodging and if they have worked here before the farms are still offering acommodation . The 7 am text also was a worry - I assume it was sent from abroad [time difference ] and the author is not a student in UK as she said.
It is so difficult as we are desperate to help , the government are not doing much to link us with potential needy and desperate families . But good luck - not everyone is out to deceive but I think we have to be very careful.

 

[Yorick]

I admire folk who do this.

But can I ask if you get 350 pet person?

That's no way being disrespectful. Good deeds should be rewarded.

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[suavecarve]

I admire folk who do this.

But can I ask if you get 350 pet person?

That's no way being disrespectful. Good deeds should be rewarded.

Its 350 for the house, so my nanny daughter and kiddy "earn" me £350. My understanding is if I had another house I could lend to another unrelated family I would still only "earn" £350.

I see the 350 as being able to assist me make their life a tad more comfortable. We decided to offer before the "incentive" came about, it is certainly not a money making venture

 

[lorger]

We have now registered with more sites than I can remember, have sent numerous messages, emails and texts with very little response. We won’t give up as I’m sure we’ll be able to help someone out there.

 

[DavidG58]

I ve just filled out the first 22 questions on the form in 21 minutes including 4 passports for the 4 adults that live here.

So far so good. The application is saved so not quite as bad as some people are making out.

I think the difficulty being encountered by the families we are trying to help, was only having phones for internet access, no place to work in, and they speak virtually no English, let alone write it .

They needed a lot of information only we could fill in, it would be better if they could have filled in their info then saved and it then passed on to us to finish

No information has been given to them on timescale other than ‘as quickly as we can’ that could be days or weeks not a very helpful timescale. They were though told not to travel to the U.K. before they get a reply

Unlike seemingly the rest of Europe Our families have now moved to Denmark where they could go without a visa then apply when there, it is likely our families may stay there now due to the welcome and relative ease

Poland, particularly close to the border, is apparently rammed with great difficulty finding accommodation and very little chance of finding work which our ‘mothers’ are keen to find

The transfer to Denmark was paid for and an assured guest house ready on arrival

We have text chatted with them this evening , they are very tired, 2 days to get out of Ukraine and 2 more to get to Denmark without a proper sleep until last night , all four children are under 10

They are upbeat and still hope to come to us If they are allowed I spent 2 hours on hold to the hotline for Ukrainian visa applications, pressing keys to chose my best option I didn’t get to speak to anybody , will try again tomorrow

We know we will be vetted, House inspection and enhanced DBS as there will be children moving in, rang our council who will be doing the checks, they have not been asked to do any or been told exactly what the house checks will entail other than they presume suitability

Not wanting to knock our system but it really should be simpler, especially where children are involved

 

[DavidG58]

We have now registered with more sites than I can remember, have sent numerous messages, emails and texts with very little response. We won’t give up as I’m sure we’ll be able to help someone out there.

We were told about

<Broken link removed>

They have offices in most English counties and just checked they have one in Glasgow

If nothing else they might put you in touch with Ukrainians living near you, that was our thought so anybody coming to us would have local support for language that we couldn’t give

There might even be a family wanting to bring over family members but don’t have room maybe

Best of luck the pair of you

 

[suavecarve]

I think the difficulty being encountered by the families we are trying to help, was only having phones for internet access, no place to work in, and they speak virtually no English, let alone write it .

They needed a lot of information only we could fill in, it would be better if they could have filled in their info then saved and it then passed on to us to finish

No information has been given to them on timescale other than ‘as quickly as we can’ that could be days or weeks not a very helpful timescale. They were though told not to travel to the U.K. before they get a reply

Unlike seemingly the rest of Europe Our families have now moved to Denmark where they could go without a visa then apply when there, it is likely our families may stay there now due to the welcome and relative ease

Poland, particularly close to the border, is apparently rammed with great difficulty finding accommodation and very little chance of finding work which our ‘mothers’ are keen to find

The transfer to Denmark was paid for and an assured guest house ready on arrival

We have text chatted with them this evening , they are very tired, 2 days to get out of Ukraine and 2 more to get to Denmark without a proper sleep until last night , all four children are under 10

They are upbeat and still hope to come to us If they are allowed I spent 2 hours on hold to the hotline for Ukrainian visa applications, pressing keys to chose my best option I didn’t get to speak to anybody , will try again tomorrow

We know we will be vetted, House inspection and enhanced DBS as there will be children moving in, rang our council who will be doing the checks, they have not been asked to do any or been told exactly what the house checks will entail other than they presume suitability

Not wanting to knock our system but it really should be simpler, especially where children are involved

I just filled out the first part of the application (all our details) and saved it with a password and this has been received by ours (admittedly in Kharkhov with a computer and they have the information given to them as to what documents to download) We have not come across the issues of many.
I have just asked on the FB group for a translation of the questions to try to ease future applications
I saw something earlier that it is expected to be 5 days from completed application to letter of admittance. How true this is is yet to be seen.
I dont think the councils know at all what is expected of them atm.
Hang on in there.

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[Abacist]

I think the difficulty being encountered by the families we are trying to help, was only having phones for internet access, no place to work in, and they speak virtually no English, let alone write it .

They needed a lot of information only we could fill in, it would be better if they could have filled in their info then saved and it then passed on to us to finish

No information has been given to them on timescale other than ‘as quickly as we can’ that could be days or weeks not a very helpful timescale. They were though told not to travel to the U.K. before they get a reply

Unlike seemingly the rest of Europe Our families have now moved to Denmark where they could go without a visa then apply when there, it is likely our families may stay there now due to the welcome and relative ease

Poland, particularly close to the border, is apparently rammed with great difficulty finding accommodation and very little chance of finding work which our ‘mothers’ are keen to find

The transfer to Denmark was paid for and an assured guest house ready on arrival

We have text chatted with them this evening , they are very tired, 2 days to get out of Ukraine and 2 more to get to Denmark without a proper sleep until last night , all four children are under 10

They are upbeat and still hope to come to us If they are allowed I spent 2 hours on hold to the hotline for Ukrainian visa applications, pressing keys to chose my best option I didn’t get to speak to anybody , will try again tomorrow

We know we will be vetted, House inspection and enhanced DBS as there will be children moving in, rang our council who will be doing the checks, they have not been asked to do any or been told exactly what the house checks will entail other than they presume suitability

Not wanting to knock our system but it really should be simpler, especially where children are involved

It was all summed up for me by Nazanin Zaghari-Radcliffe saying that it should not have taken 5 Foreign Secretaries and 6 years to get her out! Can’t for the life of me understand how crap our government are being over this issue! Would that they were on the receiving end like these poor people!

 

[lorger]

We were told about

<Broken link removed>

They have offices in most English counties and just checked they have one in Glasgow

If nothing else they might put you in touch with Ukrainians living near you, that was our thought so anybody coming to us would have local support for language that we couldn’t give

There might even be a family wanting to bring over family members but don’t have room maybe

Best of luck the pair of you

Thanks David we contacted them and the Edinburgh branch about 2 weeks ago and have yet not received a reply, I’m assuming they will be receiving thousands of emails so many get take a while.
We have been in contact with a local Ukrainian woman who has help bring her family here and will help us find someone.

We won’t give up it’s just a bit frustrating when you offer someone help and the following day they’re still asking after reading you message and not replying.

 

[Rob Hammond]

It was all summed up for me by Nazanin Zaghari-Radcliffe saying that it should not have taken 5 Foreign Secretaries and 6 years to get her out! Can’t for the life of me understand how crap our government are being over this issue! Would that they were on the receiving end like these poor people!

And it are governments fault that she went to a country run by religious nutters and let’s not forget she’s Iranian.

 

[Offagain]

Unfortunately we won’t be proceeding as the caravan needs more work than we realised - mainly electrical - and we can’t get it done quickly or before we go away next month.
Hats off to the rest of you though, I hope you all get families and look forward to reading about them on this thread.

 

[DavidG58]

Thanks David we contacted them and the Edinburgh branch about 2 weeks ago and have yet not received a reply, I’m assuming they will be receiving thousands of emails so many get take a while.
We have been in contact with a local Ukrainian woman who has help bring her family here and will help us find someone.

We won’t give up it’s just a bit frustrating when you offer someone help and the following day they’re still asking after reading you message and not replying.

Morning Gerry

Good on you, I reckon your local contact could end up being the best, it would also give you and the family you take in local support that could be essential

The lack of apparent coordination to match people offering their homes to those who need one really doesn’t help, but the problem has developed so quickly I don’t envy the decision makers

Because the U.K. is scrutinising potential incoming families I fear we will end up with low numbers getting over

It is time to take a chance let mums with kids over then process them, what is the real risk

But back to OP and the original question , once we started handing out our identify to total strangers it did set our alarm bells ringing, but we then took the stand I think our government needs to and decided to trust them there must be some risk but we have decided it’s small enough to take

We are more worried that our lack of Ukrainian will limit us in giving initial support, but we will be able to do the U.K. bits which might be hard for them with limited English

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[Alfie159]

Dentists issues not a new issue! U.K. residents struggle however all coming will be granted a visa (leave to remain) with access to all services ie school and healthcare.

This young man can be checked via government depts both sides…. Yes that includes Ukrainian. If he is an honest chap then no police records eyc.

They’ll be permitted to work too so will not rely on you financially.

Bet the charity and its affiliation to the government U.K. side. That would be my focus and ask them a million questions as you have them.



For those questioning why he left Ukraine, he might have a reason ie hidden health or disability! He might have been studying externally etc! Dont wave assumptions bu a photo!


Refugees might have strong emotions about what’s happened to them but unlike other war torn territories endured less trauma, not that im
Minimalising it.

Wish you luck and applaud your kindness

 

[suavecarve]

I ve copied these from an FB posting, I have also asked if someone can translate them into Ukrainian.

It gives you an idea of what you need to do to fill it out

Each question is a page where you click to continue. At some point before question 23 there is an option to save the form and create a password to return to it. This appears to work as I have filled out up to Q23 and my refugee family have continued it.

 

[DavidG58]

We got an email late on Friday from .gov advising that the sponsors can fill in the form on behalf of the refugee

It arrived too late for our families who had just finished doing theirs

Apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) - GOV.UK

[Withdrawn] Homes for Ukraine scheme: frequently asked questions

Questions and answers on how the Homes for Ukraine scheme will work.

www.gov.uk

Apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) - GOV.UK

I have posted links to visa application notes that we have been sent

 

[MattR]

Does anyone think that this process could be made easier for everyone while achieving the same kind of security that some are calling for?

 

[suavecarve]

Just an update on my situation, I just checked my emails and mine have filled out and completed their application. I think they still have to upload the documents (they have biometric passports) and just found out they have an 18 year old daughter (who may have filled out the form for them) who wants to remain

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[pelican]

My arsehole brother was round earlier today. He said he'd applied to host Ukranian refugees. He's doing it for all the wrong reasons, he just sees it as "easy money" now that his kids have left home. I hope to God there are things in place to get the householders vetted too ?

report him

 

[DavidG58]

Just an update on my situation, I just checked my emails and mine have filled out and completed their application

Is that an email from our government or the family you are hosting ?

We haven’t had either, our family told us they had filed their application and been given a reference number , but we have nothing in writing to confirm or allow me to chase

 

[suavecarve]

Is that an email from our government or the family you are hosting ?

We haven’t had either, our family told us they had filed their application and been given a reference number , but we have nothing in writing to confirm or allow me to chase

I suppose we got it because I filled out the form to Q23 and put my email in there. I suspect this is the same auto response that your family got, can they not forward it to you ?

Should look like this (obviously adjusted)

UK Visas & Immigration

Online application submitted​

Date: 22 Mar 2022
Name: Vlad
Visa: Apply for the Ukraine Scheme
Fee paid: No payment required
Reference: GWF0640****

This email includes your application / request reference number and confirms that there are no fees payable.

 

[MattR]

More wonderful beurocratic crap from the UK.... Have you ever heard of a refugee having to wait for their baby to be born before it can be issued a visa?

Pregnant Ukrainian woman must wait for visa for her baby before travelling to UK | ITV News

Anna Kalyta, who is heavily pregnant, her daughter and her mother Tetiana Yankovska cannot travel to the UK until the newborn baby also has a visa. | ITV National News

www.itv.com

 

[Rob Hammond]

More wonderful beurocratic crap from the UK.... Have you ever heard of a refugee having to wait for their baby to be born before it can be issued a visa?

Pregnant Ukrainian woman must wait for visa for her baby before travelling to UK | ITV News

Anna Kalyta, who is heavily pregnant, her daughter and her mother Tetiana Yankovska cannot travel to the UK until the newborn baby also has a visa. | ITV National News

www.itv.com

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[suavecarve]

The system absolutely reeks, I have refrained from slagging off HMG until today on this as I believe there does have to be some form of checks going on.
HOWEVER, it appears my family struggled to upload the forms and the last application so we have spent intermmittently between bomb sirens filling it out and uploading documents and we have now completed the 3 forms (we think) with the uploaded documents.

We said "Get to Belgium and you can stay in our motorhome" as we are leaving very early Sunday morning.
"But we have to go to Warsaw"
"No you dont you have biometric passports"
"But the 2 year old doesnt"
"The 2 year old wont have her fingerprints taken so I dont think she needs to go, i ll check"
Half hour later "You are right.... you have to go to Warsaw, join a queue for a day, find your way to a refugee centre 20 kms out of town and stay there about a week before they will take a photo of your daughter so that you can cross the channel"
"Yes that is how we understand it"
"Let me write to my MP as i dont understand why you cant have a photo of your 2 year old signed on the back by a local police officer or mayor etc"

I ought to add, if the 2 year old wasnt coming they could come straight here. A week extra for the photograph of her

They are now giving consideration to going to Italy and doing it there whilst staying with friends and maybe staying there longer term.

The whole thing is a shambles, and I presume Priti thinks we might make little 2 year old Darina into a Russian spy

 

[cyberyacht]

You couldn't make it up, could you. That's the trouble when you let civil servants loose on something.

 

[LesW]

Priti thinks we might make little 2 year old Darina into a Russian spy

I don't think it's entirely fair to blame Priti for each application disaster, after all, the last time she told a civil serpent what to do, she was accused of 'bullying'.

 

[MattR]

The system absolutely reeks, I have refrained from slagging off HMG until today on this as I believe there does have to be some form of checks going on.
HOWEVER, it appears my family struggled to upload the forms and the last application so we have spent intermmittently between bomb sirens filling it out and uploading documents and we have now completed the 3 forms (we think) with the uploaded documents.

We said "Get to Belgium and you can stay in our motorhome" as we are leaving very early Sunday morning.
"But we have to go to Warsaw"
"No you dont you have biometric passports"
"But the 2 year old doesnt"
"The 2 year old wont have her fingerprints taken so I dont think she needs to go, i ll check"
Half hour later "You are right.... you have to go to Warsaw, join a queue for a day, find your way to a refugee centre 20 kms out of town and stay there about a week before they will take a photo of your daughter so that you can cross the channel"
"Yes that is how we understand it"
"Let me write to my MP as i dont understand why you cant have a photo of your 2 year old signed on the back by a local police officer or mayor etc"

I ought to add, if the 2 year old wasnt coming they could come straight here. A week extra for the photograph of her

They are now giving consideration to going to Italy and doing it there whilst staying with friends and maybe staying there longer term.

The whole thing is a shambles, and I presume Priti thinks we might make little 2 year old Darina into a Russian spy

I was wondering if Priti thinks unborn children carry suicide vests or folk with passports that expired last week have suddenly become terrorists.

I don't think it's entirely fair to blame Priti for each application disaster, after all, the last time she told a civil serpent what to do, she was accused of 'bullying'.

I'm sure "lessons will be learned" but the same issues will arise the next time some degree of competency is required and is not provided.

 

[suavecarve]

I don't think it's entirely fair to blame Priti for each application disaster, after all, the last time she told a civil serpent what to do, she was accused of 'bullying'.

I think its entirely fair to blame the person in charge of a shambles.
The application disaster applies to absolutely everyone who has a child under the age of 5 who doesnt have a biometric passport.
I wouldnt be seeking her to bully anyone, just merely look at a situation, of her doing, and reconsider something which, in my view, is totally unnecessary. (or asking her to do her job to a satisfactory standard)

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[The Wino]

Should requisition P&O ferry's to bring refugees here free of charge.
They should load them to the gunwales like they did when making them troop ships in WW2.
2hr turn around 24 hours a day

Given the length of time and slow numbers I don't think they would need to load them that much.