Across the country visas for the Homes for Ukraine scheme have been delayed. Since the scheme was established in March 2022, over 900 visas have vanished with applicants hearing nothing.
Louise Marcinkevice, from Lincolnshire, set up a Facebook group called “Taking Action over The Homes for Ukraine Visa Delays”. The group aims to find the visas that have been delayed.
Miss Marcinkevice started the group after hearing several stories of people applying to the scheme and hearing nothing. However now, the group has nearly two thousand members, all waiting on visas.
Julie Mills is a part of Louise’s group and applied for a visa on the 4th of April for one adult and one three-year-old child. However, the tracking system shows there is no movement, and she does not know when she can get them home. She’s bought clothes for the child and prepared both rooms, but they remain empty.
Mrs Mills says it is heart breaking and that it “is so hard to be strong and support these poor women and children when really, I’m broken.”
Across the country in Salisbury the situation remains the same as 40-year-old Alison Hook is waiting for the visas for her Ukrainian refugees to be accepted too but has heard nothing.
This family Alison is hoping to help have spent seven weeks in a windowless room sharing beds with each other. Alison says they are now “getting desperate” and something must happen soon.
Louise’s group has started a community of those wanting answers. For now, petitions have been created as the Facebook group demands to be heard.