The UK government has reversed changes to its visa rules, allowing Ukrainians to sponsor their children to join them in the country under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. This decision follows a year-long struggle for families separated by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Last February, the government unexpectedly restricted eligibility under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, barring Ukrainians without permanent residency rights in the UK from sponsoring family members. The move left many families torn apart, with some parents resorting to illegal routes to bring their children to safety in the UK. Charities have long criticized the restrictions, calling them heartless and urging the government to act.
The recent change allows any parent or legal guardian in the UK under one of the visa schemes for Ukrainians to sponsor their child under the Homes for Ukraine program. This decision brings relief to thousands of parents who had been waiting for the opportunity to reunite with their children after fleeing the war.
One such parent, Valentyna (not her real name), had applied for her 12-year-old son to join her in the UK last August, but her application was stalled due to the previous visa restrictions. Valentyna had arrived in the UK before the invasion for seasonal farm work and extended her visa after the war began. While she found a permanent place to live, her son remained in Odessa, staying with relatives. Valentyna, who has not seen her son for six months, expressed her relief upon hearing the news of the rule change, saying it gave her hope that they would finally be reunited.
Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO of the Work Rights Centre, a charity supporting migrants, welcomed the change but highlighted that it does not address the plight of those separated from other family members, such as siblings, parents, and partners. “This action will come as a huge relief to parents who have been separated from their children,” Vicol said. “However, many Ukrainians still face the cruel choice of whether to leave the safety of the UK to care for elderly, sick, or disabled relatives in Ukraine or remain in safety, leaving them vulnerable.”
Charities like Settled, which supports Ukrainians applying for visas, reported that some families had resorted to illegal means to bring children to the UK in order to protect them from the dangers of the conflict. Yuliia Ismail, an immigration advisor for Settled, called on the Home Office to expedite the processing of outstanding applications for children caught in the war zone, some of which have been delayed for nearly a year.
A Home Office spokesperson acknowledged the mistake made by the previous government and confirmed that the issue had now been resolved. “We have taken urgent action to resolve this issue, which will enable parents with Ukraine Scheme visas to sponsor their children to join them in the UK. This change applies to both new applications and those already submitted.”
The policy shift provides much-needed hope for families torn apart by the conflict and ensures that more children can be safely reunited with their parents in the UK.
