Sometimes it is easier for the sponsor to apply for visas on behalf of the families or individuals. However, if your family or individual speak good English and have access to the internet, it is often easier if they make the application.

It is really important that every piece of information requested is given accurately, else this may cause significant delays to the process. If you get it right first time, then it get processed quicker.

Guidance on visas can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-visa-under-the-ukraine-sponsorship-scheme

You can make you application here:

https://apply.visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/has-international-ukrainian-passport

Waiting for visas

Once the applications are made, it is a bit of a waiting game. In our experience, the visas for the grandparent and the two children were issued roughly 10 – 12 days after the initial application. There was then a delay with the last visa (which was actually the first one that we applied for).

The Home Office states that if a is visa has not turned up within 5 days of the last visa that they have received then you can make contact with them. Once we did this process, the last visa was issued within 2 hours!

See Visa Troubleshooting below.

Visa Troubleshooting

When some, but not all, visas have been received

In this case we then called the following number:

+44 1753 907510 and choose option 3.

We advise that the sponsor makes this call.

When we called, we spoke to a really nice man who said that he was going to take us through a rather lengthy form, he said we needed to get all the information correct as he did not want it being rejected when he escalated to another department, who then issue the visa.

The call lasted approximately 1 hour, but this will depend on how many applicants there are.

You should be asked to give the following information for each applicant.

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Nationality
• Passport Number (if they have a passport)
• Place of Birth
• GWF number – this is the reference number that is given when the visa application is made.
• The date the the initial application was made
• The date the last visa/permission to travel was received

When no visas have been received

If you have been waiting for more that 14 days, call the same number above and explain that you would like it to be escalated.

They will require all the same information and insist on speaking to someone that is willing to take it.

We have had a similar incidence where a family were waiting for permission to travel letter for more that 3 weeks.

Having been in touch with MPs etc, the sponsor finally called this number and gave the information above and the visas were issued the following day.