Homes for Ukraine scheme FAQs
Please note these FAQs apply to the Homes for Ukraine scheme only.
Home assessment
Common queries about the home assessments required for the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
How do I arrange the home assessment?
As part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, authorities are required to carry out an in-person visit to your property, to ensure suitability and to check that the accommodation is safe and free from health and safety hazards. This visit will be carried out by council staff from the Private Sector Housing team, working for the Regulatory Services Partnership serving the London Boroughs of Merton, Richmond Upon Thames, and Wandsworth. If you have not done so already, please contact the Private Sector Housing team via email on privatehousing@merton.gov.uk to arrange a suitable time to visit.
What are the minimum standards the accommodation for my guest has to meet?
The Government has set these out within the scheme’s Frequently Asked Questions under the question “What do I need to do to make sure my home is suitable for my guest?”
Do I have to wait for the home assessment to take place before my guests can travel to the UK and does this affect their visa?
The home assessment is separate to the processing of the visa application, and the timing of the check will not affect when the visa is granted or when your guests may travel to the UK. We will endeavour to complete the check before your guest’s arrival, but the Government has acknowledged that this may not always be possible.
DBS checks
Common queries about DBS checks for the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Why do you require me to come into reception with my documents instead of presenting them online?
The Disclosure and Barring Service requires that documents are presented in person so that the identity of the applicant can be confirmed. This is an important part of the application process.
Can you check my documents before I come in so that I don’t waste a trip?
Yes, if you would like us to check your documents to make sure they are acceptable before you come in to present them, please send a scan of your documents (a photo from your phone is fine) via email to dbs@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk.
A lot of Group 2b documents are downloadable from the internet these days, for example bank statements. Why are these not acceptable?
Documents such as bank statements or credit card statements are downloadable as PDFs which can be easily altered electronically. This means they are no longer trusted documents. If you do not have original copies of documents like these there are other options such as a council tax statement or mortgage statement which have usually been sent to you by post.
I’ve just had a DBS check done recently; can you use that instead of having me complete a new application?
If you had a check completed recently (less than a month old), you can present it to the Civic Centre in Twickenham at the time of your appointment instead of completing a new check. If you are hosting a child or vulnerable adult your previous check will have to be at Enhanced level with Children and/or Adults barred lists checked.
I’ve registered my last DBS certificate with the DBS Update Service. Can you use that?
Yes, if you have registered with the DBS Update Service you may not need to complete a new application as long as the certificate you registered with is a Basic check if you are hosting adult(s) only, or Enhanced with Children and/or Adult barred list checked if you are hosting a child and/or vulnerable adult. Just bring the certificate you used for registering to the Civic Centre in Twickenham at the time of your appointment, and we’ll check the Update Service for you.
Is the DBS check slowing down the visa process for the Ukrainian guest?
The processing of the DBS check is separate to the Home Office's processing of the visa applicant. The DBS check can be completed after the visa has been granted, and the Ukrainian’s ability to travel to the UK is not dependent on the DBS check having been completed first.
What do I do if my DBS check seems to be taking a long time?
If you have not heard from us within the stated time frame for each stage (listed on our webpage for sponsors), please email dbs@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk for an update explaining which stage of the process you are at.
Welcome visit
Common queries about sponsoring guests through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
What should I do when my guest arrives?
You will have received an email from us with a link to an online form to complete with the name and contact details of the lead sponsor, the address where your guests will be staying, and the names and dates of birth of your guests. If you have not received this form link please email homesforukraine@richmond.gov.uk.
We will then contact you to arrange a welcome visit where you will be given a welcome pack and you can ask further questions about support available.
Financial support
Common queries about the financial support offered through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
How can guests receive the one-off £200 payment?
Ukrainian guests on a Homes for Ukraine visa are entitled to a one-off £200 payment per person to help with immediate costs. To claim this payment guests or the Ukrainian host can use the form below to book an appointment.
The appointment form will advise when to come to the Civic Centre reception, Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 12 noon, excluding bank holidays. The address is: 44 York Street, Twickenham, TW1 3BZ. Guests should bring their Ukrainian passport or visa documents as proof of ID.
Please note: If you have arrived in the UK with a Ukrainian Family Visa, you are not entitled to the £200 payment.
Travel
Common queries about travel for guests sponsored through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Are guests eligible for free travel upon arrival to get to my accommodation?
Guests are eligible for free onward travel between their initial point of entry and their accommodation. This includes National Rail train operators and TfL’s London Underground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), bus and tram services. Ukrainians will need to show their Ukrainian passport and a boarding pass or ticket showing their arrival into the UK within the last 48 hours.
For more information see the Ukrainian Displaced Persons Travel Scheme.
Visa queries
Common queries about visas for the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
How can I find out the status of a visa application?
We are unable to assist with visa queries or cannot let you know the status of visa applications as these are managed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). If you have a query about the current status of a visa application please contact the UKVI helpline on + 44 808 164 8810. Lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you cannot contact UK 0808 numbers, please contact +44 (0)175 390 7510.
Other
Other common queries about the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
How can sponsors receive the £350 monthly payments?
Sponsors will be eligible for an optional ‘thank you’ payment of £350 per month for up to 12 months in total, paid in arrears, for as long as you are hosting your guests. We will administer these ‘thank you’ payments to sponsors when all checks have been completed. These checks are the DBS checks, the home assessment visit, and the welcome visit when your guests have arrived.
Does the Ukrainian guest have to stay in the sponsor’s accommodation for the stated 6-month period before they can apply for private rental housing?
Ukrainians can move on to private accommodation whenever they are able to, including within the initial 6 month period.
If the Ukrainian guest you are hosting does move on to new accommodation, please contact homesforukraine@richmond.gov.uk to notify us of the new address.
What does the Ukrainian guest need to do to receive their Biometric Residence Permit/extend their right to stay in the UK?
Guests will need to submit their biometrics within 6 months of arriving in the UK to extend their stay for up to 3 years and be issued with a biometric residence permit (BRP) as evidence of their immigration status.
Guests can start the process to provide their biometric information by completing this online form.
Guests do not need to do this as soon as they reach the UK, but they do need to make sure that they have provided their biometrics before the 6 months leave they are granted ends.
Up to: Ukraine
Updated: 22 December 2023
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