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Petition

For Extending Visa Status for Ukrainians in the UK

Birmingham for Ukraine has been supporting Ukrainians in the UK since the start of the war, helping them to adapt and overcome the difficulties of integrating into local society.


Today, the Ukrainian community faces a new challenge – changes to visa policy.
In response to the changes announced on 26 November, Birmingham for Ukraine, represented by founder and activist Simone Schehtman, is launching a petition to:

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  • Request automatic Visa extensions, in line with most EU countries.

  • Recognise 4.5 years of stay in the UK as part of the pathway to permanent residence.

  • A clear process for extending visas after this period.

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These changes are crucial for the more than 150,000 Ukrainians in the UK. They have already become an integral part of British society: renting, working, educating their children and building careers. However, the uncertainty around visa policy is causing anxiety and making it difficult to plan for the future.


The petition is currently undergoing preliminary approval for publishing, and signature collection.


We will need to collect 100,000 signatures for our petition to be considered for a debate in UK Parliament!


We will inform as soon as the text of the petition is published on the official website.

Further Research

Natalia Kogut and Simone Schehtman speaking about this issue on Radio 4 Today 

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Natalia Kogut and Simone Schehtman speaking about this issue on the Byline Podcast: "Uncertain and Unfair" - The Ukraine Visa Extension Scheme

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​Ukrainian Refugees ‘Unfairly’ Blocked From Route to Seeking Permanent Life in the UK

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Government Statement on Changed Rules: Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules

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Report on the situation of young Ukrainians in the UK who are struggling to make decisions 
about their future in a position of insecurity: Young Ukrainians in the UK: Lives in Limbo

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Report on Homes for Ukraine scheme in Birmingham

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Work Rights Centre analysis on the UPE and the risks it poses

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Information on the level of destruction in Ukraine in 2022 alone

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See also the more recent UN report: Daily death and destruction continues in Ukraine, Security Council hears

FurtherResearch
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