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Secretary Lloyd J Austin III's Bilateral Meeting With Ukraine's Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov

SECRETARY AUSTIN:  Well, good morning, Minister Umerov. Welcome back to the Pentagon. First, I want to congratulate you and all Ukrainians on celebrating your Independence Day last weekend. The Ukrainian people continue to fight for your freedom and despite Moscow's cruel waves of attacks on critical civilian infrastructure earlier this week. But let me be clear, it is never acceptable to target civilians and Ukraine's resilience will help it prevail over Putin's aggression and atrocities. Rustem, your forces remain steadfast, and they continue to fend off the Kremlin's assaults and to inflict major losses on Russian invaders. So make no mistake, the United States will not waver in our support for a free, secure and sovereign Ukraine. Alongside some 50 of our allies and partners, the United States will continue to provide the critical capabilities that you need to fight the Kremlin's aggression. As you know, next week I'll travel to Ramstein Air Base to, again, convene the Ukraine Defense Contact Group for the 24th time. The contact group's members stand strong in our support for Ukraine.

And the contact group's eight capability coalitions are working toward Ukraine's long-term security. At next week's meeting, we'll push hard to meet Ukraine's urgent capability needs and these include air defense to counter Russia's planes, drones and missiles along with more artillery and armor, and to help you build additional combat power. So I look forward to discussing how we can best support Ukraine today and into the future. Rustem, thanks for making the trip and I look forward to a great discussion today in making even more progress next week at Ramstein. Over to you, sir.

MINISTER OF DEFENSE UMEROV:  Dear Secretary Austin, dear colleagues, thank you for hosting us today. This meeting is of utmost importance to us. The leadership of the United States has set a powerful example to encourage other partners to stand by Ukraine in this critical time. Dear Lloyd, I would like to thank you for your personal role in leading the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group. During today's meeting, we will engage in detailed discussions about the situation on the frontline, including our vision, objectives and plans. We will also address Ukraine's critical needs, including necessary armaments, equipment and training. Another area we can focus on today is Ukrainian domestic production. In the last two years, we have achieved significant progress. Ukraine has launched hundreds of new defense enterprises and can quickly manufacture high-quality weapons, ensuring prompt delivery to the battlefield. So we will touch these topics by discussing and exchanging opinions. Your contribution is always valuable. Thank you.

SECRETARY AUSTIN:  Well, thanks again for being here. I look forward to a great discussion. Thanks, everybody.

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UK support to Ukraine: factsheet

Published 21 August 2024

© Crown copyright 2024

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-support-to-ukraine-factsheet/uk-support-to-ukraine-factsheet

Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine poses a serious threat to UK prosperity and security.  We are proud to be a leading partner in providing vital support to Ukraine.

In total, the UK has committed almost £12.7 billion for Ukraine: £7.6 billion in military support and £5 billion in non-military support.  

the UK has supported UNGA resolutions condemning:

• Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: 2 March 2022 and 23 February 2023
• Russia’s attempted illegal annexation of four eastern Ukrainian regions: 12 October 2022
• Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure, including nuclear facilities: 24 July 2024

we support the OSCE as a forum to hold Russia accountable. Since February 2022, we have invoked the Moscow Mechanism 4 times

we support G7 efforts to halt the war and ensure that Russia pays for the damage done to Ukraine. The ‘Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration’ Loans for Ukraine will make available about $50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine by the end of 2024

the UK has provided £7.6 billion in military support since the invasion, and will provide £3 billion in military support for 2024 to 2025

we will sustain £3 billion a year in military aid until 2030 to 2031 and for as long as it takes (announced on 10 July 2024)

we have sent around 400 different capabilities to Ukraine, with a new package of military equipment announced on 7 July 2024

a new UK/Ukraine Defence Industrial Support Treaty makes it easier for Ukraine to draw on £3.5 billion of export finance to support its armed forces (signed on 19 July 2024)

we have trained over 45,000 Ukrainian personnel in the UK under Operation INTERFLEX

we administer the International Fund for Ukraine to procure military equipment: over £966 million has been pledged to the International Fund for Ukraine to date , including for a new £300 million ammunition order (announced on 10 July 2024)

Non-military

the UK’s non-military commitments to Ukraine since the start of the invasion come to £5 billion. This includes £4.1 billion in fiscal support through World Bank loan guarantees and £937 million in bilateral assistance

we will provide £242 million in bilateral assistance for 2024 to 2025 , to fund humanitarian, energy, stabilisation, reform, recovery and reconstruction programmes

Humanitarian

the UK has given £357 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and the region since the invasion

we gave £137 million in 2023 to 2024, including winter supplies and support for the most vulnerable, in partnership with the UN, Red Cross Movement and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). This contributed to an international humanitarian response that reached 11 million people in Ukraine in 2023

we have provided £8.6 million to HALO Trust for demining. Our demining efforts supported the clearance of over 310,000 square metres of land (May 2022 to June 2024)

Recovery and reconstruction

the UK co-hosted the Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2023 , raising over $60 billion

war risk insurance is being provided through the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) to boost inward investment into Ukraine

we have offered £3.5 billion in UK Export Finance to cover infrastructure, health and energy projects

UK flagship recovery initiatives include: the Ukraine Business Compact and the G7+ Clean Energy Partnership

our Good Governance Fund for Ukraine, a £38 million 3-year technical assistance programme, counters corruption and supports reform

overall, the UK has given over £170 million for energy security and resilience in Ukraine  

we have guaranteed a £47.5 million European Bank for Reconstruction and Development loan to the Ukrainian state energy provider

we have also contributed £44 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, including £20 million in new emergency assistance announced this year (2 May 2024)

we have committed £16 million to invest to support UK and Ukrainian innovators to help rebuild a greener and more resilient energy grid through UK’s Innovate Ukraine Green Energy Competition

the UK is also supporting the supply of vital fuel to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants to help power Ukraine and maintain its independence from Russian fuel

the UK has sanctioned over 2,000 individuals and entities, 1,700 of which have been sanctioned since Russia’s full-scale invasion, the most wide-ranging sanctions ever imposed on a major economy

UK, US and EU sanctions have deprived Russia of over $400 billion in revenue since February 2022, equivalent to 4 more years of funding for the invasion

we implemented a coordinated UK-US ban on the trade in Russian metals on the world’s 2 largest metals exchanges (announced on 12 April 2024)

according to its own Ministry of Finance, Russian revenues from oil and gas dropped by 24% in 2023 and Russian energy firm Gazprom lost $6.9 billion , its first loss in 25 years

44 countries and the EU signed our call to action on 18 July 2024 to tackle the shadow fleet that transports Russian oil and gas outside G7 sanctions, and we have sanctioned 15 ships of the shadow fleet in total

War crimes and justice

the UK has given £6.2 million to support Ukraine’s domestic war crimes investigations

we have also given an additional £2 million to the International Criminal Court

the UK is an active member of the ‘core group’ scoping options for achieving accountability for the crime of aggression

we are a founding member of the International Register of Damage to support claims by Ukrainians who have suffered losses as a result of the war

the UK-Ukraine TechBridge delivers projects in mutual trade, investment, innovation research and digital skills development

our City-Ukraine Hub leverages UK expertise to deliver capacity building projects

our Business Bridge Ukraine connects UK and Ukrainian businesses

our military aid and insurance through the UK-developed Unity facility has supported the Black Sea maritime corridor and enabled Ukraine to export their full harvest this year, crucial for global food security and Ukraine’s economy

Ukrainians in the UK

212,100 Ukrainians have arrived in the UK , including 153,800 via Homes for Ukraine (as of 12 August 2024)

in February 2024 we announced a new permission extension scheme

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Ukraine war: How can Ukrainians get UK visas – and why is it proving so difficult?

The Ukraine Family Scheme and Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine are two visa routes Ukrainians can take to escape the war with Russia and travel to the UK. But hundreds of refugees are reaching Calais to find they cannot cross the border.

News reporter @LaraKeay

Wednesday 9 March 2022 10:58, UK

Two new UK visa schemes have been announced for Ukrainians escaping the war - but only 5% of applications have been approved so far.

The Ukraine Family Scheme enables those fleeing the conflict to join relatives already living in Britain.

A second visa, which is not yet in operation, promises to allow people and organisations to sponsor Ukrainians and match them with a family - irrespective of whether they have links to the UK or not.

'Catastrophic' situation in Mariupol; follow Ukraine updates live

But chaotic scenes at visa centres across Europe, and particularly at the UK border in Calais, have led to heavy criticism the current visa scheme is not fit for purpose.

Here Sky News looks at what Ukrainians have to do to get a UK visa and why it is proving so difficult.

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Family visa route

Last week, the Home Office announced it was launching the Ukraine Family Scheme to allow Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members to join relatives already living in the UK.

It means eligible Ukrainians have to apply for a UK visa - and cannot just claim asylum - but the usual fees, minimum salary and English language requirements are removed. The visas last for three years.

It also requires them to submit biometric data, including fingerprints, at a visa application centre, whereas those arriving in EU countries do not - as the bloc is letting Ukrainians in visa-free.

To be eligible for the scheme, you must:

• Have a UK-based family member - immediate or extended • Be a Ukraine national or immediate family member of a Ukraine national applying to the scheme • Have been living in Ukraine before 1 January 2022 (the invasion began on 24 February)

Your family member must be:

• A British national • Have UK settled status, indefinite leave to remain or proof of permanent residence • An EU, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swiss, or Liechtenstein national with pre-settled status, who started living in the UK before 1 January 2021 • Someone with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

Initially, the government said the scheme would only cover people with "immediate family members" in the UK.

This includes spouses, civil partners, children under 18, parents of under-18s, fiances, proposed civil partners, and unmarried partners - providing you have been living together for at least two years.

But after a backlash, it was quickly expanded to "extended family members".

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These include siblings, parents of over-18s, children over-18, grandparents, grandchildren, or the grandchildren of your partner.

The scheme also applies to immediate family members of those extended family members.

So this also includes their spouses, civil partners, children who are under 18, parents if they are under 18, fiances, and proposed civil partners.

Relationships must have started before 1 January 2022 for spouses, partners, and fiances of extended family members to be eligible.

Why are so few visas being granted?

After applying online, people trying to come to the UK are told to book an appointment at a visa application centre where they can submit their biometric data.

With the centres in Kyiv and Lviv closed as a result of the war, applicants are having to join the millions fleeing the country to attend visa centres across Europe.

The Home Office has set up a pop-up centre in Rzeszow, Poland, near the Ukrainian border, which it claims has "well over 3,000 appointments" available per week.

But British nationals with Ukrainian relatives have described "chaotic" and "distressing" scenes of families arriving at understaffed centres with all their belongings and nowhere to stay while their applications are reviewed.

Others have reported being asked for thousands of pounds when the Ukraine scheme is free.

And the Home Office has confirmed that just 500 applications have been approved so far out of 10,000 currently active.

Why are their problems in Calais?

Those who are eligible for the UK visa scheme have been making their way across Europe to France before, they hope, crossing to Dover.

They are told on the Home Office website that even if they left their homes without documents - like marriage or birth certificates - that prove their relationship with a British national - they will still be approved as long as they can "explain why they are unable to do so".

But although Home Secretary Priti Patel told the Commons last week there were Home Office staff in Calais, it has now emerged this is just an "advice centre" - staffed by a small number of Border Force officials who cannot process visas.

Families who have made the treacherous journey from Ukraine to the UK border were initially told to travel hundreds of miles in the opposite direction to centres in Paris or Brussels.

But now Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has announced a new pop-up centre is being set up in Lille , 70 miles away from Calais.

Although there have been calls for a proper centre in Calais, Home Office minister Kevin Foster said this would allow "chokepoints" of hundreds of people arriving there and falling prey to human traffickers luring them to make an illegal crossing in a boat instead.

Sky News correspondent Ashna Hurynag reported from Calais this week that there are about 140 Ukrainians staying in a hostel there.

Some are waiting to have their applications approved and others have arrived there not knowing they couldn't get a visa appointment.

"They've travelled for days," she wrote. "Now though they're in limbo - being bounced from desk to desk to notice board to notice board. And the repeated mantra of 'No visas in Calais'."

Home Office 'haven't got the staff'

Matt Palmer, a Briton trying to get family to the UK from Ukraine, told Sky News that the visa application centre in Warsaw had "five staff to 1,000 applications".

Harjap Singh Bhangal, senior partner at immigration and family law firm GLS Solicitors, told Sky News the existing backlog of immigration cases means the system is unable to cope with a new scheme like the Ukrainian one.

"We already have a backlog of 60,000 asylum cases in the UK," he said. "The Home Office infrastructure isn't good enough to deal with this.

"They haven't got the staff. Announcing something is fine, but the application centres themselves are not geared up for it.

"If you bring a scheme in overnight, that information won't have filtered through to those outposts."

Read more: • Ukrainians blast humanitarian corridors to Russia and Belarus • Why have so few visas been issued from Ukraine to the UK? • How many Ukrainians have fled - and where are they going? • Has World War Three already started?

He added that similar visa applications usually take between eight and 12 weeks, and while the government is promising to expedite Ukrainian cases, it is not clear how many applications per day can be rushed through.

Mr Singh Bhanjal also warned of two immigration systems (one for Ukrainians and one for people from elsewhere) running parallel and causing problems, particularly in places like Calais.

"There's a war in Ukraine, so a scheme has been opened for Ukrainians. But there's also a war in Afghanistan and people are fleeing conflict and persecution in Syria, Somalia and Iraq," he said.

"They have to risk their lives in dinghies, while a Ukrainian can walk up to a centre and apply for a visa."

Sponsorship visa route

Last week, Ms Patel also announced there would be a second visa route from Ukraine to the UK - the Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine.

Ukrainians applying for this visa will not have to have a family link - but instead can be sponsored by a private individual, community organisation, business, local authority or church.

They would then be matched with a family and can live and work in the UK for 12 months.

The scheme has not been officially launched, and no further details have been released, so Ukrainians can't yet apply.

Ms Patel said that there would be "no numerical limit" on numbers who can apply and "we will welcome as many Ukrainians as wish to come and have matched sponsors".

But Mr Singh Bhangal warned that organisations taking part in the scheme would have to be verified to ensure "the system isn't abused".

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Ukraine Travel Advisory

Travel advisory may 22, 2023, ukraine - level 4: do not travel.

Do not travel to Ukraine due to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Department of State continues to advise that U.S. citizens not travel to Ukraine due to active armed conflict. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

All U.S. citizens should carefully monitor U.S. government notices and local and international media outlets for information about changing security conditions and alerts to shelter in place. Those choosing to remain in Ukraine should exercise caution due to the potential for military attacks, crime, civil unrest, and consult the Department’s latest security alerts.

The security situation in Ukraine remains unpredictable. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should stay vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. Know the location of your closest shelter or protected space. In the event of mortar, missile, drone, or rocket fire, follow instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately. If you feel your current location is no longer safe, you should carefully assess the potential risks involved in moving to a different location.

There are continued reports of Russian forces and their proxies singling out U.S. citizens in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine for detention, interrogation, or harassment because of their nationality. U.S. citizens have also been singled out when evacuating by land through Russia-occupied territory or to Russia or Belarus.

U.S. citizens seeking emergency assistance should email [email protected] for assistance. Please review what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas . U.S. citizens may also seek consular services, including requests for repatriation loans, passports, and visa services, at U.S. embassies and consulates in neighboring countries .

On February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian government declared a state of emergency. Each province (oblast) decides on measures to be implemented according to local conditions. Measures could include curfews, restrictions on the freedom of movement, ID verification, and increased security inspections, among other measures. Follow any oblast-specific state of emergency measures.

Many in the international community, including the United States and Ukraine, do not recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea in 2014, nor the September 2022 purported annexation of four other Ukrainian oblasts -- Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. There is extensive Russian Federation military presence in these areas. There are also abuses against foreigners and the local population by the occupation authorities in these regions, particularly against those who are seen as challenging Russia’s occupation.

Although Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine severely restricts the Embassy’s access and ability to provide services in these areas, the Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv continue to remotely provide certain emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Crimea as well as four other Ukrainian oblasts partially occupied by Russia – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia – to the extent possible given security conditions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) prohibiting U.S. aviation operations into, out of, within, or over Ukraine. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the FAA’s Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices .

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Ukraine.

Travel to High-Risk Areas

If you choose to disregard the Travel Advisory and travel to Ukraine, you should consider taking the following steps:

• Visit our website on Travel to High-Risk areas .
• Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
• Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.
• Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States.
• Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.
• Establish your own personal security plan in coordination with your employer or host organization or consider consulting with a professional security organization.
• Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization so that they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. This plan should specify who you would contact first and how they should share the information.
• Enroll your trip in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

If you are currently in Ukraine:

• Read the Department’s country information page on Ukraine.
• Familiarize yourself with information on what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas .
• Have a contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
• Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your contingency plans based on the new information.
• Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
• Ensure travel documents are valid and easily accessible.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Notices related to your travel.
• Get a COVID vaccine to facilitate your travel.
• Understand the COVID testing and vaccine requirements for all countries that you will transit through to your destination.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Review the Country Security Report for Ukraine.
• Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
• Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk areas .

Travel Advisory Levels

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UK visa measures for Ukrainian nationals and their family members

08 March 2022

The Home Office has put in place immediate concessions and has announced new immigration schemes for Ukrainian nationals in response to the Ukraine conflict.

The information in this article is correct at 8 March 2022. The policy situation is still evolving, and the below GOV.UK website pages should be checked for the current position:

• UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa (www.gov.uk)
• Ukraine Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Ukrainian nationals on work and study routes: concessions to the Immigration Rules - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Ukraine: what you can do to help - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Ukraine travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Additional measures outside of existing asylum/humanitarian protection laws

The current measures put in place by the British government in response to the specific situation in Ukraine include the following:

• The Ukraine Family Scheme
• The Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine
• Concessions to the normal work and study Rules

Depending on an individual’s particular circumstances, they may also be able to make an asylum or humanitarian protection claim, however this is outside the scope of this article. Pro bono advice on this may be available through the Ukraine Advice Project UK or through advisers listed by the Refugee Council .

Ukraine Family Scheme

This scheme is intended for immediate and extended family members of UK-based sponsors. The immediate family members of extended family members can also apply.

The Home Office’s caseworker guidance for the scheme confirms that it now supersedes the concessions originally announced for UK family route applications from 14 February 2022, and that any outstanding applications made under those concessions will now be considered under the Scheme.

The caseworker guidance indicates that Immigration Rules for the scheme should be made effective from 16 March 2022, however at the time of writing no Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules has yet been published. Applications to the scheme are currently being granted outside the Immigration Rules.

Application process and grant

The application is free and no Immigration Health Charge is payable.

Successful applicants will be granted immigration permission for up to three years. They will be allowed to work and access public funds, but may be required to obtain permission under the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) if they wish to study certain courses in the UK.

At the time of writing this scheme has only been set up for entry clearance applications. Applicants must attend a VAC and provide their biometrics and passport or other identity documentation if they have this available.

Full details of the in-country process will be forthcoming in the near future. Individuals intending to apply from within the UK can monitor Apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for updates.

In the meantime, the Ukraine Family Scheme caseworker guidance does confirm that in-country applicants who apply as an overstayer or while they are on immigration bail will not be refused for these reasons under the scheme.

The Home Office has published application data on the scheme here .

Eligibility

The UK-based sponsor must be one of the following:

• A British citizen
• A person who is settled in the UK (this includes people with indefinite leave to remain or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme)
• A person who has pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, and who started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
• A person with refugee status or humanitarian protection

The scheme cannot be used by family members of individuals with other forms of limited immigration permission in the UK.

An immediate family member of a UK-based sponsor is limited to:

• Spouse or civil partner
• Unmarried partner (this will be recognised where the couple have lived together for at least two years)
• Parent, where the UK-based sponsor is aged under 18
• Child aged under 18 of the UK-based sponsor
• Fiance(e) or proposed civil partner of the UK-based sponsor

An extended family member of a UK-based sponsor is limited to:

• Parent, where the UK-based sponsor is over 18
• Child who is over 18
• Grandparent
• Grandchild of the UK-based sponsor or the UK-based sponsor’s partner
• Brother or sister
• Aunt or uncle
• Niece or nephew
• Mother-in-law or father in-law
• Grandparent-in-law
• Brother or sister-in-law

An immediate family member of an extended family member is limited to:

• Spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner of an extended family member
• Child under 18 of an extended family member
• Parent of a child under 18 who is an extended family member
• Fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of an extended family member

Some additional general stipulations are:

• The applicant must have been living in the Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022 unless they are already present in the UK or are a child born or adopted on or after that date. From the online form, this is initially confirmed through self-certification. The caseworker guidance confirms that the starting point is that applicants will be believed if they self-certify, and notes that case workers can grant an application without the usual documentation. Evidence of residence can be submitted if available and the guidance sets out some examples. Caseworkers are instructed to ask for additional evidence if there is reason to believe the requirement is not met.
• The definitions of relationships set out in the caseworker guidance need to be met
• The relationship between a UK-based family member (or an extended family member) and their spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner must have started before 1 January 2022
• An immediate family member of an extended family member must apply either at the same time as the extended family member or after the extended family member has been granted immigration permission under the scheme

There is scope for other family members who do not fit within the recognised categories to be granted immigration permission under the scheme where they can show there are exceptional circumstances. Applications for foster children will also be considered. As these types of application will be referred to more senior officials, processing of them may be slower than for other applicants.

Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine

Specific details for this scheme are not yet available but it is intended for Ukrainians who do not have family ties to the UK.

Sponsors under the scheme can be:

• Communities
• Private individuals
• Local authorities

The scheme will be set up by the Department for Levelling Up , in coordination with the devolved administrations.

Immigration permission will be granted for an initial stay of 12 months, with work and access to public funds being permitted. Integration and housing support will also be included for participants.

EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit

The guidance on GOV.UK for applying to the Ukraine Family Scheme highlights that some eligible individuals may also be eligible to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit. The Home Office asks individuals not to apply under both routes, and states that it will be possible to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme after arrival in the UK irrespective of which route is pursued for entry clearance.

It may be advantageous for this option to be taken up, because the EU Settlement Scheme leads to settlement, whereas at present it is not known whether the Ukraine Family Scheme will lead to settlement, and/or whether time spent in this category will be counted towards settlement under other settlement routes.

On the other hand, there is a known backlog for EU Settlement Scheme Family Permits, with some applications taking in excess of three months to decide. It will of course be critical for individuals to be able to reach the UK as soon as possible and it is not clear whether applying for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit will delay this process.

We have enquired with the Home Office about whether and how individuals displaced by the crisis in Ukraine can be prioritised if they apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit and have asked for information on this point to be published on GOV.UK.

Concessions to work and study routes

Ukrainian citizens and their dependent partners and children who either entered the UK before 24 February 2022 or made an entry clearance application before this date and have since arrived in the UK can access a range of concessions . These cover:

• Switching from one immigration category to another, where this would normally not be allowed under the Immigration Rules
• Document flexibility where an applicant provides a sufficient and reasonable explanation why they cannot provide a document that is normally required for their application
• Waiver of TB testing
• Extension of immigration permission for Seasonal Workers, HGV drivers and pork butchers to 31 December 2022

Other immigration routes

Ukrainian citizens are of course able to make an application under any other UK immigration category that is normally available.

Entering the UK

To-date the UK government has declined to waive the visa requirement for Ukrainian citizens. This means that Ukrainian citizens must normally have a UK visa in place before seeking to enter the UK.

The Ukraine Family Scheme caseworker guidance confirms that individuals who intend to enter the UK under the scheme must apply for entry clearance in this capacity.

However, individuals who arrive at a UK port who do not have the correct entry clearance but who meet the family relationship requirements for the scheme should be considered by Border Force for leave to enter the UK outside the Immigration Rules for a period of six months. They will then be able to apply in-country for the scheme once it has opened for in-country applicants.

This provision could benefit Ukrainian citizens or other eligible applicants who already hold a valid UK visa, either as a visitor or in another capacity, as well as non-visa nationals who are able to apply for UK immigration permission at the border. This is because leave outside the Rules is likely to be granted without many of the immigration conditions that would normally apply to visitors or other limited permission holders.

In theory it is possible under this policy for a visa national who arrives at a UK juxtaposed control point in France or Belgium to demonstrate their family relationship and request leave to enter outside the Immigration Rules, but recent press reports indicate this does not appear to be happening in practice.

Whether new visitor visa applications for Ukrainian citizens will be granted will depend on whether the Immigration Rules for visitors are met in full. This would include having an intention to leave the UK at the end of the visit and otherwise being a genuine visitor, so in the current circumstances it is unlikely that a person who has fled from Ukraine will be able to demonstrate this.

It is not yet clear how long it will take to process applications under the Ukraine Family Scheme or Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine. In the meantime, affected individuals may need to stay in an interim location before proceeding to the UK. The available options for such individuals would need to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

As a general point, the Home Office always has discretion to grant immigration permission outside the Immigration Rules, so individuals may consider making a UK visa application relying on this discretion where, for example, they have compelling or compassionate reasons to advance.

Issues that need resolving

Various issues still need resolving, including whether immigration permission granted under the Ukraine Family Scheme or Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine will lead to settlement or will be counted towards the qualifying period required for settlement in other immigration categories.

As issues come to light, these will be flagged to the Home Office for resolution. It is therefore anticipated that the Immigration Rules and guidance on the provisions available for Ukrainian citizens and their family members will be subject to frequent updating in the short to medium-term.

We will be keeping our clients updated on significant developments as they arise. If you have queries about these arrangements, please contact a member of our Immigration Team .

Related items

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Blog Home Office in the media

This blog post was published under the 2015-2024 Conservative Administration

https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2022/03/11/factsheet-home-office-visa-support-for-ukrainians/

Factsheet: Home Office visa support for Ukrainians

• The Home Office stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people fleeing Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
• The generous Ukraine Family Scheme provides an immediate pathway for people from Ukraine with family already in the UK to come here.
• It is designed to allow as many as people as possible to come to the UK and gives them immediate access to the support they need.
• The Scheme was developed in close consultation with Ukrainian leaders and the diaspora community to ensure our measures respond directly to their needs and asks, and we will continue to work with them to make changes as necessary.
• Ukrainians with valid passports and who are eligible for the Scheme do not need to go to a Visa Application Centre to give their biometrics before they come to the UK.
• The Ukraine Extension Scheme, which will go live on 3 May, will give Ukrainians already in the UK on temporary visas, alongside their family members, three years’ leave and full access to work, study and public funds.
• We continue to keep our support under constant review and will adapt and develop the visa routes in place to ensure they keep pace with the rapidly shifting situation in Ukraine.

Eligibility

Family members of British nationals and those settled in the UK are eligible to come to here. This includes:

• Immediate family members (spouses, civil partners, partners, children under 18 and parents of children under 18)
• Grandparents
• Grandchildren
• Adult children
• Aunts and uncles
• Nieces and nephews

Visa requirements

The Ukraine Family Scheme is a fee-free visa route. There are no salary or language tests, but people will need to pass security checks.

How to apply with a valid passport

From Tuesday 15 March, valid Ukraine passport holders do not need to attend in-person Visa Application Centre appointments to submit fingerprints or facial verification when making applications under the Ukraine Family Scheme.

Once their application has been considered and the appropriate checks completed, they will receive direct notification that they are eligible for the scheme.

The majority of applications can be completed entirely online without attending a Visa Appointment Centre.

All applicants will still need to complete an online application form . Application forms must be completed for each family member, including one application per child.

Step-by-step guide

• Individual fills in the online application form
• Individual uploads scan of their passport
• Casework teams in the UK do appropriate biographical / security checks
• Individual receives email confirming permission to come to the UK, which they present to the transport carrier as authority to travel
• Border Force officers do any appropriate additional checks (e.g. safe guarding) on arrival and stamp their passport with six months’ leave to enter
• Individual visits a visa centre in the UK to give biometrics which finalises the grant of 36 months’ leave

How to apply without a valid passport

Applicants who hold identity cards and do not have a valid passport will still need to attend a VAC in person and provide their biometric information.

When applicants have completed an online form , they can book an appointment at any Visa Application Centre throughout Europe.

They should then attend their Visa Application Centre appointment, where they be required to submit their biometric information.

Once the visa application has been processed, we will contact applicants.

Applicants should remain in the location where they have submitted their application until they are contacted.

Leave to remain in the UK

• Those joining family in the UK through the Ukraine Family Scheme and people with temporary visas in the UK who apply to the Ukraine Extension Scheme will be granted leave for three years.
• Valid passport holders who have not attended a VAC will be granted six months leave to enter the UK outside the rules, enabling them to work, study and claim benefits immediately. Once they have submitted biometric data in the UK, they will have their leave extended to three years.

Ukraine Extension Scheme

• The Ukraine Extension Scheme will go live on 3 May and will be open to Ukrainians in the UK on temporary visas, including work, study, or visitor visas, alongside their family members, to apply for three years’ leave to remain in the UK.
• Any Ukrainian whose leave to remain in the UK expired between 1 January 2022 and the Ukraine Extension Scheme coming into effect will still qualify for three years’ leave.
• Ukrainians here as workers (including under the Seasonal Work route)
• Ukrainians here as students and graduates
• Ukrainians here as visitors
• Ukrainians here with leave under the family and private life routes
• Ukrainians here as the dependants of third country nationals in any route
• Ukrainians here with exempt status
• Ukrainians here who have been granted temporary leave to enter or remain outside the rules
• Ukrainians here with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• The non-Ukrainian dependants of Ukrainians in these cohorts, who would be granted leave in line.
• If you want information on the Ukraine Family Scheme, you should call the dedicated Home Office line +44 (0)808 164 8810 – select option 1.  This option is now available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
• If you are a Ukrainian national in the UK and need assistance, please call the dedicated Home Office line  +44 (0)808 164 8810 – select option 1. This option is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
• Further advice can be found at:  Support for family members of British nationals in Ukraine, and Ukrainian nationals in Ukraine and the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Myth buster:

Why don’t you just waive visas.

• We’ve already waived some of the normal requirements under this scheme, in order to help people forced to flee be reunited with their families in the UK as quickly as possible.
• Security and identity checks are a fundamental part of our visa process in order to keep people in this country safe, and this is consistent with our approach to the evacuation of Afghanistan.
• That is vital both to keep British citizens safe, but also to ensure that we are helping those in genuine need – as the Minister set out, we are already seeing people presenting false documents claiming to be Ukrainians.

Can’t you just do biometric checks on the street? Why do you need to go to the VAC?

• We take biometrics in secure VACs for the safety and security of our customers and staff, and to ensure sensitive data captured on our biometrics equipment is secure.

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