Visas have been issued for 566 Ukrainians to travel to Scotland under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, according to the latest figures.
The number is more than double last week’s total of 210, Home Office figures show but still low in the 80,000 applications made under the various UK schemes.
Home Office figures revealed around 12,000 people had arrived in the UK under Ukraine visa schemes as of Tuesday although nearly 80,000 had applied under the schemes on offer.
The latest Scottish statistics include 35 refugees whose applications have been approved under the Scottish government’s super sponsor scheme which removes the need for individuals to be matched with hosts before arriving in the UK.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told BBC Scotland the process of granting visas remained “painfully slow”.
Sturgeon said the super sponsor scheme and support structure was in place to help refugees when they arrive.
But she added: “The bit in the middle is the granting of the visas and we hope to see that speed up.
“I know there is work being done at UK government level to try to speed it up but, and I think UK government ministers would admit this themselves, that bit remains too cumbersome and it is taking far too long.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel has apologised “with frustration” for delays to the visa system that have prevented thousands of Ukrainian refugees from coming to the UK.
Labour said the figures were “shameful” and called for Patel to unblock the delays that are leaving 30,000 Ukrainians who have UK sponsors “in limbo”.
Labour Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the figures were “a total disgrace”.
She tweeted: “Over 30,000 Ukrainians with British sponsors still stuck in visa limbo, around half of them waiting more than ten days.”
“This is a total disgrace. Where is the Home Secretary? She needs to account for these scandalous and shameful delays that are letting everyone down.”
But in her interview Patel insisted that there were no delays, only processing.
Patel said: “They’re not seeing delays, we are processing, and as I’ve said as well I’m streamlining processes, I streamlined the family scheme in less than a week, and we simplified that and we changed the way certain checks are done.”
The Home Office figures show that some 10,800 people had arrived under the Ukraine family scheme and 1,200 under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme.
About 79,800 applications have been received for both schemes and 40,900 visas had been granted, as of Thursday.
There were 43,600 applications for the sponsorship scheme and 12,500 visas have been issued.
Out of 36,300 applications for family visas, 28,500 have been granted.
Of the visas issued, 28,500 were under the Ukraine Family Scheme and 12,500 were under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which allows people to sponsor Ukrainian refugees.
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