‘She will be killed’
‘She will be killed’: Wife of Afghan man who worked for British army denied UK visa (Independent)‘Hafizullah Husseinkhel, commended by his cavalry regiment for his ‘outstanding’ contribution in Helmand province, says he feels ‘betrayed’ and ‘terrified’ after the Home Office refused his wife’s application to join him in Britain’ This isn’t the first issue that […]
Nothing new under the sun
We begin this week with a shocking story from the 1940s which has seemingly only just come to light : Chinese seafarers were coerced into leaving UK after war, Home Office admits (Guardian) ‘After responding to calls to serve in the British merchant navy in the Battle of the Atlantic, about 2,000 Chinese seamen remained […]
‘Mistakes and delays’
We begin this week with a flurry of stories relating to Ukraine. ‘Home Office ‘mistakes and delays’ mean girl, 4, must stay trapped in Ukraine’ (Guardian).‘A four-year-old girl remains stranded in a block of flats on the Ukrainian frontline four months after attempts began to bring her to the UK, a delay campaigners have blamed […]
Immigration news roundup
Roundup of various pieces of immigration news from around the web which may be of interest to our members and supporters: ‘Fears over skills as visa application times double for spouses.’ (Personnel Today)‘Spouse applications for people coming to work in the UK are being delayed, leaving immigration specialists concerned that the extra waiting times for […]
‘Want to Host a Ukrainian Refugee? The U.K. Isn’t Making It Easy’
The New York Times reports on the UK government’s troubled visa scheme.‘A plan that allows Britons to sponsor people fleeing the Russian invasion has been plagued by visa delays and safeguarding concerns…’ ‘… Weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, and amid widespread criticism that it was not doing enough to help, the British […]
‘No humanity whatsoever’
The Guardian reports on pleas to grant a UK visa to an autistic Ukrainian boy who has a UK sponsor. ‘Pleas are mounting for compassion to be shown to Timothy Tymoshenko, 16, who fled the war in Ukraine without his parents. He is living with his 17-year-old brother, Yurii, in what was once a private […]
Hundreds of Ukrainian refugees removed from UK’s ‘unsuitable’ housing sponsors.
Hundreds of Ukrainian refugees removed from UK’s ‘unsuitable’ housing sponsors. (Guardian) Positive Action in Housing, an NGO with a strong record in matching refugees with sponsors, has previously criticised the scheme – describing it as as ‘trafficker’s charter’ and calling for people to lobby the government. Also from Positive Action in Housing – this briefing […]
‘To hurt Putin, steal his top students?’
‘To hurt Putin, steal his top students.’ (Mikhail Kokorich/Politico) Interesting perspective arguing for relaxation of visa restrictions as a way to fight the dictatorship (and dictatorships in general), and specifically arguing against restrictions and bureaucracy which prevent freedom of movement for ordinary people who may be victims of the regime – and to be able […]
