In order to qualify for the bonus, the British must offer the Ukrainians shelter for at least six months and that they are not allowed to ask for rent in return. In addition, they must be able to demonstrate that the accommodation they offer meets certain requirements and the government can check whether they have a criminal record.
Criticism
The British government has been criticized in recent weeks for its handling of the refugee crisis in the country. For example, Ukrainian refugees had to wait a long time before being helped due to bureaucratic red tape surrounding the visa process.
Ukrainians are only allowed to enter the United Kingdom with a visa. They can get this if they have family or a so-called sponsor in the country. To speed up the processing of applications, since Thursday only Ukrainians without a passport have to go to a special visa office. Refugees with passports can now also submit their request online.
Through the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ plan, Ukrainians who don’t know anyone in Britain can still be assigned a sponsor, allowing them to stay in the country. The UK government expects the scheme to take up to three years.