The sponsorship situation has changed a lot during the Homes for Ukraine programme. If in 2022 there were many people willing to host Ukrainians, and the guests could even choose where and who to go to, after 2 years of the programme the number of people willing to sponsor has decreased. Also, as of 19 February 2024, the UK government has updated the conditions for the Ukrainian scheme and introduced stricter requirements for sponsors, which will also reduce the number of people who can provide shelter. Finding a sponsor has therefore become much more difficult.
There are many reasons for this:
- People who wanted to sponsor have already found Ukrainian guests; since the beginning of February 2024, more than 143,000 Ukrainians have arrived in the UK on a sponsored visa.
- Some Ukrainians (around 30%) have been able to rent their own accommodation, but the majority continue to live with their sponsors.
- Sponsors whose guests have already left are often unwilling to take on new guests (according to the latest survey, 73% of sponsors whose guests have already left do not plan to look for new guests).
- The increase in the 'thank you' payment to £500 will apply to sponsors who place those Ukrainians who have been in the UK on a sponsor visa for 12 months or more, and will therefore encourage them to continue to place those who are already in the country.
-Ukrainians who came to the UK under one of the Ukrainian schemes and had planned to sponsor their friends and family will no longer be able to do so from 19 February 2024.
- Sponsors who are still available and on the lists of local councils will only be used for re-matching, i.e. placing Ukrainians already living in the area of a council who need to replace a sponsor.
Meanwhile, the number of Ukrainians looking for a sponsor is still very high, so there is an imbalance between the "demand" for sponsors and their "supply".
Where and how can you really find a sponsor?
Based on the experience of Ukrainians who found sponsors in late 2023 - early 2024:
1. Search through colleagues, friends, relatives and acquaintances who are already here.
This is the best option - for example, if your friend already lives here with the sponsors and has good contact with them, ask her to see if any of her sponsor's friends/acquaintances would be willing to act as sponsors as well. A good reference from friends and a personal recommendation from guests may convince those who are reluctant to invite strangers.
Or, if someone you know is planning to leave their sponsors for a rented flat, you can ask them to recommend you to their sponsors as a new guest. Just make sure that the sponsor meets the new requirements that came into force on 19 February 2024: they must be a citizen of the UK, Ireland or a person with ILR/settled status, i.e. the right of permanent residence in the UK.
2. Contact UK government-approved charities
Their contacts are listed on the government website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/recognised-providers-organisations-who-can-help-guests-from-ukraine-find-sponsors-in-the-uk
The process can be lengthy, but some Ukrainians have been lucky enough to find a sponsor this way. You can search the websites of these organisations
- Refugees at Home: https://refugeesathome.org/help-and-information/self-referred-guests/
- Reset: https://homesforukraine.org.uk/
- World Jewish Relief: https://www.worldjewishrelief.org/applicationformrussian
- Hospitaller Services of St John of God: https://sjog-homesforukraine.uk/
3. Social networking sites, such as Facebook groups
There are many of these and we cannot recommend any in particular. If you do decide to try this route, we would advise you to avoid the London/Manchester/Edinburgh groups and other large popular cities, or the resort areas of southern England. Firstly, you are more likely to find a sponsor in the province. Secondly, when the sponsorship ends, you will have to find an accommodation to rent, which is easier where there is less competition.
Be very careful when communicating with potential sponsors on social media. Unfortunately, the situation is now such that most reviews will be from scammers and not from genuine housing sponsors.
How to improve your chances of finding a sponsor
Our advice on finding a sponsor generally boils down to "put yourself in the sponsor's shoes and think about who you would like to sponsor". In more detail
1. Write about yourself clearly and in detail
One of the worst ways to find a sponsor is to post a short "Hello, I'm looking for a sponsor" ad on chats and social networks. It says absolutely nothing about who you are, where you're from, what kind of person you are and what your situation is - which means the chances of a real sponsor responding and genuinely wanting to protect you are minimal.
The chances are higher if you give more details:
Your name, how old are you and some words about your family
Where you are now and whether you are in danger
What level of English you speak
What your job is, what your hobbies are
Have you any bad habits such as smoking
Have you any animals travelling with you and if so, which ones
Have you a disability, allergies, or other issues
You can submit a photo of yourself or your family, just make sure it's modest and appropriate.
2. Avoid big cities and resorts
Remember that the sponsors who are responding now will not be from the big cities (London, Manchester, etc.) or the holiday regions of the south. The majority will be from the North of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and generally smaller towns and villages. There are still people who have a large enough home, do not sponsor anyone and still have both the desire and the ability to help Ukrainians. Therefore, "finding a sponsor in London" is not a realistic expectation.
3. Do not bring pets
This is very sad advice, but we have to give it. There are very few sponsors willing to take pets, and they tend to live in the most remote areas of the UK. Many people have their own pets or are allergic to dogs/cats - so having a pet will greatly reduce your chances.
So if you have someone you can leave your pet with for a period of time while you arrive in the UK and settle in - do it. Then, if you rent a separate flat, you can bring your dog or cat with you (if the landlord allows pets, of course).
4. Get your papers in order and ready to go
Once you have found a sponsor, you will need to act quickly - if you delay, they may change their mind. So get a biometric international passport (if you don't already have one) and have everything ready to leave - so that you can go to the UK as soon as you get your visa.
5. Lower your expectations of the sponsor and show you have a plan
Real sponsors are ordinary people who volunteer to provide a home for strangers fleeing war. The gratuity they receive (£350/month per address, regardless of the number of guests) is quite modest and usually does not cover all of the sponsor's accommodation costs.
Therefore, you should not expect your sponsor to provide financial support for your family, or to solve all your problems with documentation, work, rent, etc. Many sponsors offer such help, but they are under no obligation to do so.
Also remember that when you get a sponsored visa, the sponsor agrees to house you for 6 months. They can host you for longer, but only if they are able and willing to do so.
Be prepared to communicate with potential sponsors. Tell them what you plan to do after your sponsorship ends, including learning the language, finding a job and renting your own place. This will reassure the prospective sponsor that they will not be faced with the difficult choice of continuing to live with people they are already tired of, or asking them to leave and becoming homeless.
How NOT to find a sponsor
We have analysed the reactions in groups looking for sponsors to Ukrainians looking for sponsors. Here's what doesn't work and what we recommend you avoid when creating your ads:
1. If the ad is only looking for a sponsor in London or Manchester. Real sponsors will give you a safe place, for free. It looks very suspicious if your location is more important to you than your safety.
2. Seeking a visa-only sponsor without a place of residence. This is a direct breach of the rules of this scheme, so it is unlikely that a genuine sponsor would go to such lengths to help you and break the rules. UK citizens and people living here have always been used to respecting laws and regulations and therefore have a negative attitude to the idea of bogus sponsorship.
3. Offer money to the prospective sponsor. This is a direct scam and also causes a negative reaction from people who want to help for charitable reasons.
4. If you are in a safe country and are looking for better conditions. Sponsors must have a clear and honest explanation for why you are moving to the UK.
5. The reason for moving is to study or work and "only in the UK". Such opportunities exist in almost all European countries.
6. You want the prospective sponsor to help you get into university or find a job. This is not the responsibility of the sponsor.
7. Do not write that there is "no future" for you in Ukraine. Britain is supporting Ukraine militarily and financially at this difficult time, so it sounds a bit strange if the British believe in our victory more than the Ukrainians themselves.
8. Complaining about the conditions/culture of your country. Where is the guarantee that you will not complain about your stay in the UK?
9. Specify the desired nationality of the future sponsor ("native English only"). This is a sign of racism and discrimination. British citizenship and the right to permanent residence are held by people of many different nationalities and backgrounds, and they are all equal under the law.
10. A man is looking for a sponsor and does not indicate that he has a legal permit to leave Ukraine. We advise you to explain in more detail that you can leave legally and why you need help.
Reasons for refusing sponsorship from Homes for Ukraine
Since the launch of the 2022 sponsorship scheme, the Home Office has applied very relaxed visa refusal rules in order to speed up the processing of applications. On 19/02/2024, changes came into force which return Homes for Ukraine visas to the standard, stricter refusal rules (the so-called Grounds for Refusal (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules- part-9-grounds-for-refusal).
We recommend reviewing the most common reasons for refusal of Homes for Ukraine visa applications to avoid potential problems in the future. Therefore, a guest may be refused a visa if
1. The sponsor does not meet the criteria of the programme.
The sponsor is not a British citizen or a permanent resident of the UK. Or you have simply not included the sponsor's passport, BRP or other document proving their immigration status with the application.
Cannot provide accommodation of sufficient size (to avoid overcrowding) for a period of 6 months or more, or does not have written permission from the landlord to do so if the accommodation is rented (such permission must also be included with the application as evidence).
The property has been assessed by the Council as being dangerous to life.
The sponsor has not passed a DBS check, i.e. has been in trouble with the law in the past.
There is evidence of fraud, e.g. this sponsor's name is already on 10 visa applications from completely different people/families.
2. The visitor is not a citizen of Ukraine and is not a foreigner travelling with a relative who is a citizen of Ukraine.
3. The guest cannot prove that Ukraine was his/her place of residence in 2021 (especially at the end of the year).
4. The guest is subject to an expulsion or deportation order from the UK
5. The guest's presence in the UK is undesirable for reasons of public policy. For example, support for terrorist organisations, links to organised crime, incitement to racial hatred.
6. The guest has committed an offence: for which they have been sentenced to 12 months or more, causing serious harm, or committing or aiding and abetting war crimes or crimes against peace/humanity.
7. The guest has taken part in a sham marriage, registered or civil. For example, a foreign national married a Ukrainian woman in order to obtain a visa to the UK, or provided false evidence of a marital relationship in order to obtain a visa to the UK.
8. The visitor provided false or misleading information in the application or used forged documents. For example, by falsifying evidence of residence in Ukraine or by failing to disclose that they had previously been refused a visa or deported.
9. The visitor has a history of immigration offences. For example, they entered the UK illegally (without a visa or with a forged visa) or overstayed their visa.
10. The visitor has, without good reason, failed to comply with a reasonable request. For example, did not provide additional information as requested by the visa service or did not provide biometric data at the visa centre.
Source: "Eligibility Requirements" section of the Instructions to Visa Officers (updated 24/02/24) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65ccd937c96cf3000c6a3761/Homes+for+Ukraine+Sponsorship+Scheme__1_.pdf )
This is only a general explanation of possible reasons for refusal and does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions about the eligibility criteria and rules, please call the helpline on +44 808 164 8810 (Mon-Thu 9am-4.45pm, Fri 9am-4.30pm London time).
What happens if I use the help of 'visa assistants'?
Due to a real shortage of sponsors, thousands of Ukrainians are unable to find protection, which is used by scammers - they will not take care of your problem, and in fact they will not help you.
If you use their services, you will be without money, without a sponsor and without a visa:
You will be blocked as soon as they receive your payment, you will lose money and you will share your personal details, which can be used to hack your bank accounts, for example.
You will be sent a fake letter of permission, which will make you to spend money and time for a trip, but will not allow you to enter the UK (you will be refused entry at the border).
You will be given a visa by a "sponsor" who does not even know you exist (i.e. if their personal details were be stolen), leaving you vulnerable to border control problems and homelessness.
Your 'sponsor' will not provide you with accommodation and you will again face problems of homelessness and difficulties in obtaining documents and one-off financial support from the council (which is linked to the actual settlement in the sponsored accommodation).
You will be given a route into the UK which is illegal ('via Ireland') and will lead to serious problems with the UK Migration Service and spoil your immigration history.
The most common sponsorship scams
They ask you for money "to find you a sponsor".
Under the rules of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, applying for a visa is completely free. The government does not charge a fee for the application, biometric submission and initial BRP plastic card. Many scammers using the visa scheme try to make money from "finding a sponsor", "issuing a sponsor visa" and "filling in visas applications".
This support is provided 100% free of charge by charitable organisations. To find a sponsor, contact the organisations listed above. If you already have a housing sponsor and need help completing the application, contact the charity Settled, their website is https://settled.org.uk/ukraine-ukr/, email ukraineadvice@settled.org.uk.
You will be offered a 'homeless sponsor' for money.
According to the rules of the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship programme, the sponsor has no right to take money from the guests for the sponsorship. He can only ask for a proportionate and reasonable compensation for the utilities actually consumed by the guests and for the municipal tax if the guests live in his separate accommodation.
Therefore, if you are offered a sponsorship "without accommodation" - this is 100% fraud, leading to the problems listed above. Do not fall for such offers and do not send money to any office or person on the internet.
The agent advises entry via Dublin or another city in Ireland.
The Republic of Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom. If you travel through its territory and then cross the border into Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK) without a valid UK visa, you automatically become an illegal.
This means that you do not have any of the rights granted by "Ukrainian" visas. If you go to the government or the police, you will be given an "immigration bond" with no right to rent, benefits, legal work, etc., and you will have to leave the UK on the first request. In the worst case, your documents will also be confiscated and it will be difficult for you to return home.
Illegal entry will also have long-term negative consequences for your immigration history - even if you leave the UK and then apply for a visa, there is a very high chance that you will be refused. You may be banned from entering the UK for 10 years, and you will be permanently barred from obtaining legal status and British citizenship (even if you meet all the requirements in the future).
You will be offered a BRP seasonal worker visa or a tourist visa.
Intermediaries may promise an "easy" transition to the Ukraine Extension Scheme by issuing a Tier 5 visa (seasonal worker) or a tourist visa (standard visitor).
Even if these visas are genuinely granted, it is important to understand that an application to the Ukraine Extension Scheme is only possible if the applicant is in the UK and their visa was issued before 16 November 2023. A loophole in the rules that allowed people to come as 'tourists' or 'seasonal workers' and switch to the Ukraine Extension Scheme has been closed to anyone whose visa was issued after this date.
While waiting for a decision, the applicant is in the UK under the terms of the visa on which they entered the country. So for people on a Tourist or Seasonal Worker Visa, this means: no work, no long-term rental of accommodation, no access to benefits and free medication, no right to homelessness assistance.
Payment to the sponsor of the biometrics/BRP application.
The 'sponsor' writes that the Biometrics/BRP application costs £50 per person (and the guest has to pay it into their account). After the payment, the person disappears and blocks the person in all social networks and messengers, or "draws" a fake permission letter with which it is impossible to enter the UK / there is a risk of becoming an illegal.
Who to Protect yourself from fraud:
1. The most important thing: look for a genuine sponsor with accommodation that will house you for 6 months or more and meets the criteria of the programme.
2. Remember that the visa application and BRP registration are FREE for both you and the sponsor.
3. Do not pay anyone for "finding a sponsor", "making an application" or "registering with BRP".
4. Submit the visa application only INDEPENDENTLY, without the involvement of "agencies" or "consultants”.
5. Submit the visa application to YOUR email only, even if you are completing it together with a sponsor.
6. Do not allow the sponsor to make an application on his/her email, and do not give the password to your application to anyone.
7. Do not give your personal visa application details to anyone.
8. Remember that after the changes to the application process on 7 December 2023, the application will only be considered after the biometrics have been submitted at a visa centre OUTSIDE the UK. Any promises to issue a visa without visiting a visa centre are 100% a sign of fraud.
9. Do not travel to the UK until you have obtained a vignette visa at a visa centre(!). Letters from the TLS Contact visa centre only inform you of the assessment process and do NOT give you the right to enter the UK.
10. Only enter the UK via airports/ports in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland (Belfast). DO NOT go through Dublin (Republic of Ireland), especially if your "sponsor" "recommends" it, such advice is 100% fraud.
We hope that this information is useful and that you will be able to find a genuine sponsor who will provide you with.
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