UK to Launch New Scheme to Let More Ukrainian Refugees In

LONDON (AA) – The UK is launching a fresh scheme to allow more people fleeing Ukraine into the country, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said on Sunday.

Speaking to BBC on Sunday morning, Gove said more than 3,000 visas had been issued so far under the existing family scheme in which Ukrainians with family members settled in the UK are eligible.

Gove also confirmed that the government’s new Homes for Ukraine scheme would start on Monday.

The new scheme offers £350 ($456) every month to UK households that would host Ukrainians with no ties to the UK for a minimum period of six months.

“Tomorrow (Monday, March 14) we’ll be launching a portal, a website, which will allow anyone who wants to help to register their interest,” Gove said.

“And then from Friday, we will have a process set up whereby we can match named individuals, families, from Ukraine, with individuals here. And I would hope that within a week, there’ll be people who can benefit from that scheme.”

Describing the initiative as the “fastest way” to get people out of danger and into the UK, Gove said there were “hundreds of thousands of people potentially who are willing to take Ukrainians into their home.”

“However, it is a big commitment and that’s why we’re providing £350 per month for every household,” he added.

“And of course (Ukrainian) people, when they’re here, will be able to work as well and to contribute to society.”

Gove also said that starting on next Tuesday, Ukrainians who would like to come to the UK would “no longer need to go to a visa application center.”

He said: “If you have a valid Ukrainian passport, you can simply apply online, have your application turned round relatively rapidly, then you will get a notification.

“There’ll be a PDF you can have on your phone or you can print out and then you can come to this country.”