Thread by @kim_neverenough

I'm a British volunteer in working on the Polish-Ukrainian border in Przemyśl with Ukrainian refugees. The UK visa process for people FLEEING A WAR is atrocious. Here's a little snippet of something I'm try to fix today 👇

Background: the charity I'm working with does UK visa sponsor matching, visa applications, accommodation for refugees, pet passport arrangements and also transport for Ukrainians to the UK.

One of our clients received an email from the Wales super sponsor programme she's applying for. Many thanks middle-aged Ukrainian don't speak any English and of course the email she received was in English only, no translation, no option for translation.

It asked her to call a British phone number. Not cheap from another country in Europe, especially a mobile. But people have fled a war, job, life, have no income. It's an expensive call AND they can't communicate.

I called the number. The voice message on the line (no option for other languages) said to get a pen and read out three numbers.
I called one of them - was not right.

I just called another - it told me to call a special number for Ukrainian refugees but read it out so fast in double digits that I couldn't write it down fast enough and need to call a few times to capture it. How does a non-English speaker do that?!

I call that number. Finally a message in several languages saying THE NUMBER I HAVE CALLED IS NOT IN SERVICE.

I'm so proud to be British and that we're really doing everything we can as a nation to provide timely assistance to people who need it!!!

Oh and BTW did you know a Ukrainian had to prove they were in Ukraine before January? Currently with a refugee desperately calling their mum to get evidence.

Utility bills aren't what you immediately think to pack when fleeing a war and not much of Ukrainian bills are digital apparently. Not everything has addresses on. This guy was living with his mum in Ukraine so doesn't even have his name on bills.

This process breaks my heart.

And @APHAgovuk doesn't get off lightly either. Called the dedicated Ukrainian pet line. Ukrainian REFUGEES are expected to print a form, fill it in, scan/photo to send it back. Then they'll get a phone call from the APHA with NO INTERPRETER
Packing your printer when you flee?!

Helpful @APHAgovuk man explained the process has been designed quickly...a digital form might be available soon...!
I guess a war doesn't happen on weekends and Bank Holidays.
Thankfully our volunteers work 11-hour days, 7 days a week, every week.

I also only heard English on the @APHAgovuk recorded message and I bet the animal certificate form has no translation available.

How do you prove a guinea pig left Ukraine on a particular date? Stamp its tiny passport?!
#homesforukraine

Currently have half of families with visas, half without in several cases. Nothing we can do but ask sponsors to speak to their MP. Ridiculous.

I'm back in the UK but on the volunteering group chat there are multiple families where half have a visa approved and half do not

There's someone whose name was incorrectly spelt on a letter and after two weeks, our volunteer team has heard nothing from the Home Office team who is responsible for fixing this

One thing that really gets my goat is that the UK Government is sorting visas but people are having to find their own sponsors. There are actually Facebook groups that organise this. So many safeguarding issues. This is why the charity I am involved with does sponsor matching