Becky Morton
Political reporter
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Ukrainians in the UK have lost employment opportunities and homes due to uncertainty about how long they are allowed to stay in the country.
They were initially given the right to live and work in the UK for three years, and were able to apply for an 18-month extension 28 days before the original visa expired. The government said this provided “certificateness and safety.”
However, some Ukrainians have told the BBC that employers are reluctant to hire them, or that landlords will not rent to them as their visas expire.
One survey of 1,133 Ukrainians in the UK suggested that 41% lost new job opportunities due to visa uncertainty, while 26% said their tenants were not renewed.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham said 22% of respondents had not renewed their employment contracts, while 24% said they could not sign new tenants.
Arrivals arrived after the house for Ukraine, which allows the British to host people fleeing the war, began on March 14, 2022.
At its peak in May of that year, more than 10,000 Ukrainians came in a week, and a total of 300,000 sanctuaries had been provided so far, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
People were initially given the right to stay for three years. This means that most visas will expire in the coming months. The Ukrainian Permit Extension Scheme opened on February 18th.
The government says that Ukrainians retain existing rights to live and work in the UK, but a decision has been made on whether to extend visas, which could take up to eight weeks.
But the charity says Ukrainians who are actually in the process of extending their visas or who have only been left with months of remaining have struggled to find jobs or rental properties.
Mira, who lives with her 14-year-old daughter in Assartone, Warwickshire, is waiting for the visa extension to be approved.
The family must leave the apartment by April 25th, as it is being sold by the landlord.
She had planned to move to a flat near her job at a salon in Nuneaton, but the agent told her she couldn’t sign a six-month tenant as her visa expires on April 12th.
Mira said she tried many different agents without success due to her visa status.
She told the BBC she added “I can’t sleep at night,” and she was worried about the prospect of being left without living anywhere.
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Mira fled the Kalkiv region of eastern Ukraine in April 2022
Tatiana – Not her real name, but despite her highly qualified lab technician, she struggled to find a new job after her contract.
For six months, she says she was denied after about six jobs because her visa was due to expire in July.
One company asked her to apply for a visa extension immediately, but she couldn’t because of the rule that the application can only be done 28 days before the original visa expires.
Tatiana, who has two sons, ages 11 and 16, told the BBC that the situation is suffering from anxiety.
She now has a new job, but Tatiana is still worried about her future.
“It’s extremely frustrating to feel trapped in this cycle,” she said.
“[My employer] I want to provide a long-term position, but the visa situation prevents that.
“We are all in a tough position. I hope there is at least certainty about the future.”
Olena – not her real name – arrived in the UK in April 2022 with her now 15-year-old daughter, and their visas have recently expired.
She applied for an extension more than three weeks before the expiration date, but they are still waiting for this to be approved.
Olena is a hotel housekeeper, but her employer initially tells her she can’t work after her visa has expired and she has to take annual leave.
She also receives universal credits as she only works for a limited amount of time due to health issues. Her visa has expired, so her caseworker wrote in her warning that it could stop her merit and could cause further anxiety for her.
Government guidance states that the right to claim benefits remains pending visa decisions.
Olena was able to convince her employer. She was able to continue working with the help of charities.
Others told the BBC they were notified by the university where they must pay international fees as they expire before the visa begins.
This is despite government guidance that states that people on the Visa Scheme for Ukrainians should be treated as “home” students who are eligible for financial support and domestic costs.
Settled said there were more technical issues as Ukrainians were unable to prove their visa status or proceed with applications for extensions.
He said that automatic visa extensions would avoid these issues.
Simone Shettman, who runs Birmingham for Ukrainian support groups, said that while most visa extensions are currently approved within weeks, there are concerns that the amount of applications could overwhelm the system in the coming months.
“We have about 100,000 Ukrainians who are trying to submit to them. [extension application]”Mr. Shetman said, “It’s a complete disaster.”
A government spokesperson said, “We are fully committed to supporting Ukraine in the fight against Putin’s illegal wars, but we will provide a safe and secure heaven for those fleeing the conflict.”
The spokesperson added that the visa expansion scheme allowed “continuation of the right to work, live and research, as well as access to health and welfare support in the UK.”
