Over the summer of 2023, Settled became concerned about notable increases in two inter-related issues raised by our Ukrainian service users: fear of nuclear disaster; and scamming of people by pseudo-advisers charging for visas that turn out to be fake. In August, we wrote a letter to Home Office ministers: outlining the issues, giving brief casestudies, and suggesting four courses of action. 

We received this response from the Home Office in September.

Here is our reply, thanking the Home Office for their consideration; reiterating recommendations for a new additional visa route not reliant on applicants finding sponsors, and the need for training of Border Force staff to enable more consistent use of discretionary leave to remain; and adding new concerns and recommendations, including communications outputs and training for public authorities relating to this discretionary leave stamp, so that vulnerable Ukrainians do not face destitution and further trauma in the UK. 

This correspondence can be viewed through the three links above, or in the uploaded documents below (in chronological order).