Homes for Ukraine

The Government is urging all those across the UK who use a physical immigration document to take immediate action to transition to an eVisa, as part of plans to digitise the UK border and immigration system.  

All visa holders who live in the UK and use a physical immigration document, such as a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), to prove their rights are urged to take action now at Get access to your eVisa: Overview.

Migrant Help has been confirmed as one of the national grant funded bodies and are now offering immediate, free support for vulnerable individuals in their transition to an eVisa. For referrals or to request assistance, please call them on 07483 170100 or email evisa@migranthelpuk.org

For a full list of grant funded organisations offering support, which will be updated over time, can be found at eVisa: Community support for vulnerable people

More information on what you need to do and by when, including for those who currently hold a physical immigration document, available at GOV.UK/eVisa.

All Ukrainians who have come to the UK after the invasion can apply for a visa extension. They will be able to apply for an 18-month extension. This means that those on the earliest visas can stay until at least September 2026.

The extension will apply to all three visa schemes. These schemes were set up after the invasion:

• Homes for Ukraine scheme
• Ukraine Family Scheme
• Ukraine Extension Scheme.

Under this extension, those on the schemes will continue to have the same rights as their current visa to:

• access work
• benefits
• healthcare
• education

Applications for the extensions will be open in early 2025. People will be able to apply once they are in the last three months of an existing visa.

Many hosts and guests have had questions about visas. We hope that this announcement provides some reassurance. The London Borough of Harrow is in regular communication with the Government. We will provide you with more information when we have it.

For more details see Government extends stay for Ukrainians in the UK.

The HFU scheme allows Ukrainians and their close family to come to the UK. They can come if a UK household sponsors them.

The period of permission granted to new HFU applicants (including minors) is changing. It is changing from 36 to 18 months.

Eligibility criteria for sponsors is changing. All new sponsors need to be a UK or Irish citizen, or have settled status in the UK.

These changes apply to all new applications made after 19th February 2024.

The UFS is now closed to new applications. It closed at 3pm on 19th February 2024.

This scheme allowed Ukrainians to join their family in the UK. The government decided to end this scheme. They believe that it is no longer sustainable. People with existing UFS permission will keep it.

The UES is now closed to new applicants. It closed on the 16th May 2024. However, the scheme remains open for children who are born in the UK. 

The UES scheme was open to those Ukrainians and their family, who had permission to be in the UK.

We need to make sure that the accommodation you’re offering is suitable and safe. We also need to confirm that everyone in your household is happy to be involved in the programme.

We are required to conduct a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on everyone in your household aged 16 and above.

We need enhanced DBS checks. They confirm any police cautions and warnings. This is if there are children or vulnerable adults in the family you’re due to host.

Checks on your home are carried out by Two Generations. They support home sharing initiatives. They are experienced at conducting accommodation checks.

This work is done via video call where possible. In some cases an in-person visit is necessary.

Voluntary Action Harrow (VAH) processes the DBS checks for us. They do this under a licence agreement with CareCheck. We cover the fees.

Once you’ve applied to become a sponsor, we will ask you to contact VAH to start this process. They will confirm whether you need the basic or enhanced DBS check.

You can contact VAH during office hours if you have any questions by:

• telephone on 020886 15894 or email at dbs@voluntaryactionharrow.org.uk.

DBS checks are made at the same time as the checks on your accommodation.

All adults in your household will need an up-to-date DBS assessment before you’re able to host. An update to a previous DBS check can be obtained with a subscription to the DBS update service.

Without this, a new assessment will have to be made.

You can expect an appointment within 48 hours of receiving confirmation of a match. Two Generations try to set up their assessment meeting with you the following week.

They will reach their decision on the suitability of your property the week after that. 

DBS checks run at the same time as the assessment of your accommodation, but can take longer. These checks do not hold up the processing of your guests’ visas.

Two Generations and Voluntary Action Harrow will contact you after their checks.

Yes. We can help with minor costs, including the fitting of smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. We can also help carry out gas safety checks to make your accommodation safe.

If checks highlight that more work is needed, you can claim the expenses on the Homes for Ukraine form.

If you need more significant work, you will have to pay for this yourself. You will be unable to continue with your application until any recommended work is completed.

Visa processing for Ukrainian refugees is carried out by the Home Office. The checks happen at the same time as our checks of accommodation and host families.

We have no control over visa processing and cannot influence the time it takes.

Romanian and Eastern European Hub (Ro-EE Hub) provide translation services. Support is available to you and your guests.

Your guests will get help to settle into Harrow and access local services including:

• Citizens Advice Harrow
• Harrow Law Centre
• school places
• GP
• benefits
• social activities.

The Harrow Law Centre offers legal advice related to visas and immigration status.

The Ro-EE Hub will contact your guests after you have confirmed their arrival. The Ro-EE Hub will make an appointment to visit your guests in their accommodation.

Reset is the UK’s Community Sponsorship learning hub. You’ll find helpful resources on their site, including a Sponsor’s Toolkit.

Thrive LDN, works to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Londoners. They have developed resources for displaced Ukrainians.

You will receive £350 a month during the first 12 months of your guests’ stay. This will increase to £500 once your guest has been in the UK for 12 months.

This payment is intended to help sponsors continue hosting for longer. The thank-you payment is available for up to three years after the guest arrives.

You will need to complete the Homes for Ukraine form within 24 hours of your guests’ arrival. Once received, we aim to process payment within 10 working days. 

Further payments are made at the end of each month and will take 3 to 5 days to reach your bank account.  All the host checks must have been completed before a payment will be made.

If there is a delay in processing your payment, it will be backdated to the date of the guest’s arrival at your property.

We will visit the sponsor/guest at the property after the first six months. Ro-EE Hub will be in touch with your guest to arrange this. We will send a reminder letter to you one month in advance of the visit.

The thank-you payment is tax free and will not affect your entitlement to benefits.

You must get your landlord’s permission before joining the scheme. Two Generations will ask to see this when completing their accommodation check.

Your tenancy agreement may include information about how long guests can stay.

We have a list of organisations who can provide affordable furniture for your new home.

You can also contact Ro-EE Hub if you need furniture for your new home and they may be able to assist you.

The government has issued General advice on donations to the people of Ukraine.

For further information visit Ukraine: what you can do to help.