A Ukrainian refugee couple who fled to the UK have been refused permission for their two-year-old daughter to join them after the government suddenly changed its sponsorship rules, The Independent can reveal.
Oleksandra and Yaroslav were offered shelter from Russia’s war under the Homes for Ukraine scheme in April 2022, leaving newborn Anna with her grandparents in Kyiv until they were settled in the UK with work and their own home.
But after finally overcoming the hurdles of finding accommodation and setting up their own marketing business in the UK, the couple’s submission in April for their daughter, now a toddler, to join them was refused by the Home Office, after rules for the schemes allowing Ukrainians to do so were tightened overnight in February.
“Now it seems like it’s impossible to bring Anna,” Oleksandra told The Independent. “I was almost there – and I wasn’t expecting [the legislation] to change. I’m very sad and frustrated, I don’t know what to do and how to react. If I am not able to bring Anna, we will be forced to leave everything and go somewhere else.
“I spent a lot of time building up the business, finding proper accommodation, and when we came here we didn’t have anything – our business in Ukraine was closed and we didn’t have any money. So it’s not a good situation.”
Despite the Home Office insisting that the new rules do not prevent children from joining their parents, charities warn the changes have created “unintended consequences” and could leave hundreds – if not thousands – of Ukrainians separated from their loved ones.
Esta historia es de la edición May 13, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 13, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
London Hospitals Working On Paper After Russia Hack
Senior hospital sources describe the situation as a disaster’
King And Queen Shed Tears At D-Day Commemorations
William joined Charles and Camilla at the anniversary events
Modi Can Bounce Back - Just Like His Great Admirer, Trump
Narendra Modi was the first world leader to be given a tour of the White House by a freshly elected Donald Trump.
PM May Regret His Tax Claim After Treasury Rubbishes It
James Bowler, the most senior civil servant in the Treasury, may have just hammered the final nail into a misfiring Tory general election campaign.
Twelfth Straight Month Of Record Global Temperatures
The world faced the hottest May on record, completing 12 months in a row that have set a new global temperature record for that time of year.
The Treasury's Intervention Is Yet Another Blow To Sunak
After Tuesday night’s TV debate, relieved Conservatives claimed Rishi Sunak had detonated another “Labour tax bombshell” with his repeated claim that the party’s £38.5bn of unfunded spending commitments would cost every working household £2,000.
Sunak Accused Of Lying As Watchdog Probes Tax Claim
Rishi Sunak's hopes of pulling off a surprise victory in the general election appeared to have unravelled yesterday on another day in which the Tory campaign was beset by a series of crises.
A Doctor Who original and Corrie viewer heartbreaker
Versatile William Russell also starred as Sir Lancelot and acted alongside Alec Guinness on stage in his 70-year career
BEST OF FRENEMIES
This week’s instalment of Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver’s candid podcast saw the duo open up about what happened when the singer slept with the TV presenter’s crush. Is this a huge friendship taboo or fair game, asks Katie Rosseinsky
Women who changed the course of history at D-Day
As we mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, Guy Walters explains the success of the crucial amphibious invasion was contingent on some almost-forgotten heroes