This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament

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Petition Offer fast track asylum to any Ukrainians displaced due to the invasion

The Government should create a process to admit any Ukrainians displaced due to the Russian invasion, which operates under the presumption of granting asylum and can be applied for outside the UK.

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The threat from the Russian invasion of Ukraine is extremely high and has the potential to displace huge numbers. The morally correct thing is to admit as many refugees from this conflict as possible without leaving them in limbo, shirking our responsibilities or forcing them to undertake a dangerous journey to apply.

This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months

10,929 signatures

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100,000

Government responded

This response was given on 12 April 2022

We delivered a generous response for Ukrainians, with 3 schemes to help them come to the UK, the first of their kind in the world. They offer greater security than asylum, and have no cap on numbers.

Read the response in full

Our humanitarian response has been developed at pace and in close consultation with the government of Ukraine and following extensive discussion with other countries in the region. The Ukrainian Family Scheme was launched on 4 March for relatives of British nationals and people settled in the UK. The scheme includes immediate family members (spouses, civil partners, partners, children under 18 and parents of children under 18), foster children, Ukrainian parents, grandparents, grandchildren, adult children, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws and their immediate family members. This was the first scheme of its kind to be operationalised by any country in the world.

We have streamlined the process so that there are no requirements for salary or language tests, but people will need to pass security checks. These checks are a fundamental part of our visa approval process and will continue, as they did for the evacuation of Afghanistan, to keep the public safe. Those granted status under the scheme will be able to come to the UK for three years with a right to work and access to benefits.

In addition to the Ukrainian Family Scheme, we also want to help Ukrainians who do not have family here. To assist them, we launched the Homes for Ukraine Scheme on 18 March. It will match Ukrainians with no family here with individuals, businesses, community organisations, or local authorities who are willing and able to act as their sponsor.

The Government is working closely with the UN Refugee Agency and other organisations in Ukraine to ensure that displaced Ukrainians are aware of this offer and know how to apply. DLUHC will also work closely with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to promote this scheme.

There are no limits to the number of individuals who can come to the UK via either of these schemes, provided they are eligible.

The Government has no plans to set up a separate fast track process or route outside of these two schemes, and the rights granted for work, benefits and right of abode for anyone claiming asylum are significantly inferior to those offered via UFS or H4DS.

Speeding up the process

Individuals who hold a valid Ukrainian international passport; or an expired Ukrainian international passport that contains an official passport extension stamp endorsed by the Ukrainian government, do not need to provide their biometric information at a visa application Centre (VAC) overseas when making an application under both Ukraine Schemes. These individuals can apply entirely online, and will instead submit their biometrics after they have arrived in the UK.

Individuals who hold identity cards or Ukrainian domestic passports and do not have a valid Ukrainian international passport (or an expired passport with a Ukrainian government officially endorsed extension), will still be required to provide their biometric information at a VAC in person.

We have also surged staff to support operations in VACs overseas, and prioritised caseworking for the Ukraine schemes in the UK, including by redeploying staff from wider Home Office business and other government departments.

Home Office

MPs discuss the Ukraine crisis

In the last two weeks MPs have discussed the crisis in Ukraine almost every day in the House of Commons:

  • Ministers have made several statements updating MPs on the situation in Ukraine, and the UK's response to this
  • MPs have debated and approved legislation to introduce sanctions against Russia
  • Opposition and backbench MPs have secured debates to discuss the crisis in Ukraine, and relations with Russia

You can find links to transcripts of all these discussions below.

Read transcripts of recent discussions in the House of Commons about Ukraine and Russia

You can find below a list of all the statements and debates about Ukraine and Russia in the last two weeks, with links to the transcripts of discussions by MPs.

Find out more about the Ukraine crisis

The House of Commons Library has published a series of briefings about the Ukraine crisis, with information about how the situation has developed, and the international response.

Find out more: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9455/

Find out about future discussions in the House of Commons

Find out about upcoming discussions in the House of Commons here: https://whatson.parliament.uk/

Transcripts of all discussions in the House of Commons are published here a few hours after they happen: https://hansard.parliament.uk/

Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament

Sign up to the UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/your-uk-parliament-newsletter-sign-up-form/

Arrangements for Ukrainian refugees to enter the UK to be discussed by MPs

MPs will debate an e-petition calling on the Government to waive visa requirements for Ukrainian refugees on Monday 14 March. This debate has been scheduled by the MPs on the Petitions Committee.

Watch the debate on Monday from 4.30pm: https://youtu.be/ZeqPJokhuqA

You can also read a transcript of the debate a few hours after it has finished: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-02-24

This debate has been scheduled because e-petition 609530, "Waive visa requirement for Ukrainian refugees", was signed by over 100,000 people.

Read the petition that prompted next week's debate: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/609530

What is a Westminster Hall debate?

Westminster Hall is the second chamber of the House of Commons. Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local and national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Westminster Hall debates are general debates that do not end in a vote.

Find out more about Westminster Hall debates: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/westminster-hall-debates/

Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament

You can sign up to the UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/your-uk-parliament-newsletter-sign-up-form/

Ukrainian refugees discussed by MPs, and new ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme announced

MPs debated an e-petition relating to arrangements for Ukrainian refugees to enter the UK on Monday 14 March. This debate followed a Government announcement of a new ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme, which will allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to bring Ukrainians to safety.

Debate on arrangements for Ukrainian refugees to enter the UK

MPs debated an e-petition calling on the Government to waive visa requirements for Ukrainian refugees on Monday 14 March. This debate was scheduled by the MPs on the Petitions Committee, because e-petition 609530, "Waive visa requirement for Ukrainian refugees", was signed by over 100,000 people.

Read the petition that prompted this debate: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/609530

Read a transcript of the debate: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2022-03-14/debates/7F61EFBF-4EDF-43C3-A739-AA1FFA3F63CE/UkrainianRefugees

Watch the debate: https://youtu.be/ZeqPJokhuqA

This was a Westminster Hall debate, which give MPs an opportunity to raise local and national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Westminster Hall debates are general debates that do not end in a vote.

Find out more about Westminster Hall debates: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/westminster-hall-debates/

Government announces ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme

The Government has launched a new ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme, which will allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to bring Ukrainians to safety – including those with no family ties to the UK.

In the first phase of the scheme people in the UK will be able to nominate a named Ukrainian or Ukrainian family to stay with them in their home or in a separate property.

Find out more information, and record your interest: https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/

The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced details of the scheme in the House of Commons on Monday 14 March.

Read the Secretary of State's announcement and questions from MPs: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-03-14/debates/8B28287A-F683-4F80-8A1F-AA1016D92B27/UkraineSponsorshipScheme

Find out more about the Ukraine crisis

The House of Commons Library has published a series of accessible briefings about the Ukraine crisis, with information about how the situation has developed, and the international response.

Find out more: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9455/

Find out about future discussions in the House of Commons

Find out about upcoming discussions in the House of Commons: https://whatson.parliament.uk/

Read transcripts of all discussions in the House of Commons, which are published a few hours after they happen: https://hansard.parliament.uk/