We propose that the UK Government implement an immediate Visa Waiver to enable Ukrainian refugees who have a sponsor to enter the UK now.

The country of Ukraine is in a crisis.  The UK has instituted a "Homes For Ukraine Visa Scheme" which allows Ukrainian refugees, with a sponsor, to be granted a visa, allowing them to work, and have access to public funds for up to 3 years.  They are given housing, they are given the opportunity to work, and most importantly, they will be safe. Most of the refugees are women and children.  Some will be men unable to serve in the Army, or allowed to be with their family because of personal family needs or health reasons. 

"Homes for Ukraine" opened on March 18th. Many thousands of people have applied. The rate that the Home Office is processing these applications is agonisingly slow. There are a multitude of families who have not received their permission letter to travel.  Some have given up and had to go back to Ukraine because the process has been taking too long.  At the current rate that the Home Office is processing these applications, there will be significant numbers of people waiting many months for their applications to be processed. This is unacceptable.

A Visa Waiver program will solve this urgent situation.

We propose a Visa Waiver, which would enable people with passports or a biometric check done at a VAC office, to apply online, with their sponsor sharing access to updates, and receive same day permission to travel.  The local councils have been carrying out their checks in record time, and many council staff are working exceedingly hard to do this. 

Why is Her Majesty’s Government keeping the doors shut, when they promised the doors would be thrown wide open?