Visas: Ukraine

Home Office written question – answered at on 27 March 2023.

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Photo of Deidre Brock Deidre Brock Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Wales), Shadow SNP Spokesperson (COP26), Shadow SNP Spokesperson (House of Commons Business)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of automatically extending visas for people in the UK under the (a) Homes for Ukraine, (b) Ukrainian Family Scheme and (c) Ukraine Extension Scheme, if the war in Ukraine continues.

Photo of Deidre Brock Deidre Brock Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Wales), Shadow SNP Spokesperson (COP26), Shadow SNP Spokesperson (House of Commons Business)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending visas under the (a) Homes for Ukraine scheme, (b) Ukrainian Family Scheme and (c) Ukraine Extension Scheme beyond the initial three-year period.

Photo of Deidre Brock Deidre Brock Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Wales), Shadow SNP Spokesperson (COP26), Shadow SNP Spokesperson (House of Commons Business)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending visas under the (a) Homes for Ukraine scheme, (b) Ukrainian Family Scheme and (c) Ukraine Extension Scheme for people who enter (i) further and (ii) higher education.

Photo of Deidre Brock Deidre Brock Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Wales), Shadow SNP Spokesperson (COP26), Shadow SNP Spokesperson (House of Commons Business)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to provide assurance to those people in the UK under the (a) Homes for Ukraine scheme, (b) Ukrainian Family Scheme and (c) Ukraine Extension Scheme on the longer-term status of their visa; and if she will make a statement.

Photo of Robert Jenrick Robert Jenrick The Minister for Immigration

In response to Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine, we launched one of the fastest and biggest visa schemes in UK history, with over 220,000 visas issued under Ukraine Schemes; 67,000 through the Ukraine Family Scheme and 156,000 through the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

We firmly believe that Ukraine will be safe again and we will continue to support the Ukrainian Government for as long as is necessary in their efforts against Putin.

The Government of Ukraine has been clear that it needs citizens to return to Ukraine when it is safe to do so, to help rebuild the country.

Therefore, our approach has been to provide Ukrainians with access to a three-year visa for temporary sanctuary in the UK, providing them with certainty and stability while they are here, to settle into jobs, schooling and accommodation.

Of course, we keep any future need for an extension of leave in the UK under review, in line with developments of the situation in Ukraine.

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