Ukrainian refugees in Britain may lose housing and jobs due to visa extension changes – The Telegraph

Ukrainian refugees in Britain may lose housing and jobs due to uncertainty over visa extensions.

This was reported by The Telegraph.

After the expiration of their three-year visas, thousands of Ukrainian refugees have found themselves unable to prove their right to remain in the country. This creates obstacles for extending rental agreements, signing new contracts, and has even led to significant rent increases, the publication writes.

The Telegraph reminds that in February, a new visa extension scheme for Ukrainian refugees came into effect in Britain. Visas can be extended for 18 months, but an application must be submitted for this.

The processing of applications takes up to eight weeks, which has already caused problems with housing rentals due to the unclear refugee status. According to a study by the University of Birmingham, 26% of respondents reported being denied a lease extension, while 24% were unable to sign new contracts.

Some Ukrainians have faced exploitation by landlords, who have used visa expirations as a pretext to significantly increase rental prices, sometimes demanding payments in advance.

Experts see automatic visa extensions as a possible solution to the issue, but no decision has been made yet.

As a reminder, since January, Ukrainians have once again been allowed to bring their children to the UK. Now, a parent or legal guardian residing in the UK under any of the visa schemes available for Ukrainians can apply for sponsorship under the Homes for Ukraine program.