Scots who opened their doors to 50 Ukrainian refugees have hit out at the Home Office for blocking their bid to help families fleeing the war.
Members of the Dollar Refugee Hosting Group have prepared spare rooms and attics around the village for 50 Ukrainians.
But the rooms are lying empty three weeks after they started the process due to red tape imposed on those trying to get visas to reach the UK.
Distressing stories of needless delays are now emerging, with desperate Ukrainian mothers and children waiting in halfway houses unable to come to Scotland.
Others who hoped to travel to Scotland are believed to have given up because they have run out of money or are so exhausted by the bureaucratic obstacles put in their way.
Furious villagers have now accused the Home Office of:
- Stalling on many of the visa applications, with no reason or update given.
- Sending visas for mothers but delaying for weeks the visas of children – meaning the whole family is stuck.
- Insisting on biometric testing in faraway countries, even for women travelling with young children.
- Refusing passage for babies because they do not have a passport.
- Wrecking Scotland’s “super-sponsor scheme” with its frustrating and obstructive visa process.
Hairdresser Holly Ehret has set aside a room in her home for a Ukrainian mum and daughter.
They are among a group of 12 Ukrainians who know each other from home and hope to head to Dollar. Two have headed elsewhere already because of the visa logjam.
She found the match via Glasgow-based Ukrainian lawyer Alexander Boyd, who has tried to streamline the process for many incoming Ukrainians.
Holly, 48, said: “I truly believe that the Home Office would much rather see the people we have matched with simply run out of patience and money and go to another country.
“[Home Secretary] Priti Patel says they are welcome here but that is not matched by actions, as no other countries has all the crazy obstacles that the UK has.”
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Holly has matched with young mum Valentina, 41, and her 11-year-old daughter Anna. Her husband and 20-year-old son are fighting the Russians.
Valentina told the British Embassy she would like to come to Scotland yet was advised that she must stay elsewhere until the visas are approved.
For three weeks they have had to live between Madrid and Berlin, where they had to go to get biometrics done for a passport.
Holly said: “It’s inhumane. They were forced to go from one country to another and they are still just hanging on, awaiting a visa to come through and nothing has changed for 12 days.
“Meanwhile, her son is digging trenches to stop the Russians and her husband is helping take supplies to the front line.
“Because Anna has no passport, Valentina was told she must get biometrics done.
“The whole thing is ludicrous because we have an extremely vulnerable mother and daughter shuttling between foreign countries for no reason. What risk could they pose to British security?”
The Dollar Refugee Hosting Group was set up by businessman David Louden, who has set aside two bedrooms in his home.
He said: “We found a match for a young Ukrainian woman, Olexsandra, with a two-year-old daughter, Polina.
“I put my application in on March 18 and Alexander got the Ukrainian things completed and filed within six days.
“But from March 24 no one has heard a word from the Home Office, just silence.
“We have an extremely vulnerable woman and daughter left in limbo, unable to plan even a few days in advance.
“It simply isn’t right that the United Kingdom has such a hostile visa process.”
A statement on behalf of the Dollar Refugee Hosting Group slammed the delays. The group said: “Britain is already looking as if it is a hostile environment compared to our European neighbours.”
Dollar MP John Nicolson said the local area has consistently opened its doors to refugees – but faced obstacles every step of the way.
He said: “The UK Government’s response has been woeful. The ‘urgent MPs’ Home Office hotline’ is closed every weekend.
“We are trying to help family members of Ukrainians who have desperately been trying to bring their family over and have been met by UK Government obstacles at every turn.”
By finding matches in advance, the Dollar community has already saved much of the administration that has caused huge delays and anger elsewhere.
It emerged last week that only 500 of the 4700 people granted visas under the Homes for Ukraine scheme have arrived in the United Kingdom.
Last night a Government spokesperson said: “We are moving as quickly as possible to ensure that those fleeing Ukraine can find safety in the UK through the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine.”
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