The length of visas for Ukrainian refugees joining relatives in the UK will increase from 12 months to three years, the government has announced.
Home Secretary, Priti Patel said this would give those escaping the war certainty and more time to find work.
However, Labour is still pushing for the scheme to be widened to include Ukrainian refugees without relatives in the UK; after Ms Patel launched the Ukraine Family Scheme on Friday, to allow Britons and those settled in the UK to bring family members over.
The United Nations says more than one million people have left Ukraine since Russia invaded last week.
Meanwhile, the UK government has come under fire for its scheme saying is not as “generous” as the EU’s plan that sees all Ukrainian refugees eligible to stay for up to three years.
Initially, the UK was allowing only refugees with immediate family members to settle in the UK to come for up to 12 months without first having to seek asylum.
Today, (6 March) the home secretary tweeted the steps the UK government is taking to stand with Ukraine refugees:
🇬🇧 Most significant economic sanctions on war criminal Putin & his cronies in history of any Govt.
🇬🇧 Essential aid, supplies & military support to 🇺🇦
🇬🇧 Family Scheme for immediate & extended family.
🇬🇧 Sponsor Scheme for those without family ties.
— Priti Patel (@pritipatel) March 6, 2022
