Saturday, 30 April marks a week since we first started our Vigil for Visas.
Six weeks ago, the government launched the Homes for Ukraine with some fanfare, Michael Gove encouraged us with the rousing words about ‘the UK’s long and proud history of helping others in their hour of need’ and promising that the scheme would ‘offer a lifeline to those who’d been forced to flee’.
As soon as the scheme opened many of us signed up, 200,000 of us in fact. It’s all been very “do-it-yourself” from the start. First, we had to find our families, then fill in the applications, DBS forms, House checks and more. We did it all. And then we waited.
Waited until we realised something was wrong. Five weeks later various groups that didn’t know the other existed started to act. We’ve since joined forces to challenge the Home Office on a number of fronts. But for tomorrow the campaign continues with a Vigil for Visas with the simple question – Where are they?
We know it’s making a difference so please do join us at 2 Marsham Street outside the Home Office between 2 – 4 pm. We have some colour posters and our placards and 5 Demands are available for printing here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1TOQ9djrDNP0Vw_kLsnPk7C4aBi_wi0Tm
For those who’ve been waiting for their visas – please print out the number of days and add it to your placard.
Whether it’s cock up or conspiracy it really doesn’t matter – it’s cruel. Join us tomorrow to
Tell Patel – Delay is Deadly – We Need Visas – Now!
Look forward to seeing you there.
Hi, I’d like to join the group on behalf of the family I am sponsoring, a mum and her daughters, 13 and 10 years old. I have organised sponsors for seven family’s and they are all through but not the family I am sponsoring I applied in the first few days of the scheme opening and heard nothing till last week despite the round of phone calls and emails to various places I thought could help. The H O Ukrainian help line simply said ‘there’s nothing we can do,’ To which I was flabbergasted. Then my daughter was told they would be escalated, a lie because I’ve since learned that only urgent medical cases are being escalated and they arestill not through after that. I’m so upset on the family’s behalf.
I was told four weeks ago that the mum’s case was in the clearing centre and it still hasn’t been granted. Her children’s came through five days ago. I have tried everything including numerous phone calls to my MP and a face to face meeting and I’m crying with frustration and concern for this family. They have made it to Munich and I feel like getting on a plane and bringing her back with me and demanding at the border that they be allowed in. How do I get their names on the lawsuit that is being built please and please let me know of any demonstrations. King regards Mary Hennessy