Over 6.5 million people have been displaced in Ukraine since Russia invaded on the 24th of February. The United Kingdom has launched schemes for Ukrainians to enter the UK outside the normal routes that existed before. While we welcome routes for those trying to flee Ukraine, the schemes leave out some vulnerable people groups and are causing massive delays due to government bureaucracy. Visas shouldn’t even be necessary for those fleeing war but the UK government continues to require this. 

Crucially, both schemes are limited to Ukrainian nationals, with the exception of allowing a Ukrainian applicant to include their non-Ukrainian family members as dependents on the application. The UK government has offered no such support to foreign nationals resident in Ukraine, and equally suffering as Russia’s violent invasion continues. Cases like this are why we need funding to hire an immigration advisor to offer more specialist support.

The Ukraine Family scheme is more generous than the traditional family reunion route but due to Home Office bureaucracy and documentary requirements, there are very long delays with applications and some client groups left out. There is a desperate need for immigration advisors and support for those trying to flee Ukraine, especially in cases that do not fit “within the rules”. Cases that are successful are going to require further support with connecting clients to mainstream support within the UK. 

This is why we are raising money to hire an immigration advisor. We need your support to do this. Please contribute and share this page!

What we will use the money for: We are raising funds to hire a full-time immigration advisor focused on supporting those fleeing Ukraine with free immigration advice and representation. The charitable and legal aid sector is massively overstretched and further provision is needed. This will provide for a position focused on reuniting family members from Ukraine, as well as helping those without family connections to come to the UK.

How much do we need: We need £17,200 to fund this position initially for 3 months. This covers the cost of salary for the caseworker as well as overheads, supervision and any training needed for the position. For any funding in excess of what is asked for, we will spend this on further immigration advice for vulnerable migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

Who are we: The Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex and London (RAMFEL) is a not for profit charity that supports vulnerable migrants to access justice and that provides vital support in moments of individual crisis. We do this with offering free immigration advice and representation as well as our integration project focused on helping refugees and asylum seekers integrate into the UK with access to housing, doctors, employment and other mainstream support.

Thank you for your vital support!