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, under changes brought in 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.
This meant Ukrainians living in the UK without permanent residence could no longer sponsor family members to join them in the UK.
The government has now announced that 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.
Valentyna applied for her 12-year-old son to join her in the UK last August but her application had remained pending because Ukrainians were no longer allowed to act as sponsors.
Her son was staying with relatives in Odessa while she found somewhere permanent to live before applying for him to join her.
Her son had been staying with relatives in Odessa while she found somewhere permanent to live before applying for him to join her.
Valentyna has not seen her son for six months and became emotional when asked how it felt to be separated from him.
The government’s action was welcomed as a “huge relief” by some charities and officials, although there were criticisms it did not do enough for all those forced apart from loved ones.
“Settled,” another charity supporting Ukrainians, said the UK government has made a cruel decision to the separated families with parents and young children.
Charities urged the government to consider the case of those already living in Ukraine to reunite families.
There was no detail yet on whether outstanding applications by separated families could still be valid for sponsorship in this new program, but government was asked that outstanding applications by separated families in danger should still be valid and speed up in these cases, or allow separated family members come the UK or support the travel in other country until they settle together.
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