23rd January 2025
Homes For Ukraine Lincolnshire e-newsletter
Contacting us
Welcome to the latest issue of our e-newsletter for Homes For Ukraine guests and hosts. This newsletter is sent out by Lincolnshire County Council's Migration Team. You can email the team on: homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk. Our business hours are Monday to Thursday 09:00 - 17:00 and Friday from 09:00 - 16:30. The email address is constantly monitored during these times.
You can also visit our Homes For Ukraine Lincolnshire website to find other information, and also to read this newsletter in Ukrainian or Russian. Use the 'Select Language' button at the top of the screen to switch language.
Відвідайте веб-сайт «Оселі для України в Лінкольнширі», щоб прочитати цей інформаційний бюлетень українською або російською мовами.
Для перемикання мови використовуйте кнопку «Вибрати мову» у верхній частині екрана.
Посетите сайт «Homes For Ukraine Lincolnshire», чтобы прочитать этот бюллетень на украинском или русском языке. Для переключения языка используйте кнопку «Выбрать язык» в верхней части экрана.
Visas and Immigration
Homes For Ukraine visa end dates
The Migration Team at Lincolnshire County Council are not given the dates when each guest's Homes For Ukraine visa expires. However we need to know this date in order to correctly administer the Homes For Ukraine scheme, in particular the thank you payments made to hosts.
The only way for us to confirm the visa end date is by asking each guest living with a host to send us a share code.
A share code is a safe and secure way for a guest to allow another organisation to see their immigration status, and when their visa expires.
We are starting to email guests who are still living in hosting arrangements. We would like each guest to send us a share code so that we can know definitively when each person's visa expires.
We'd like to ask guests who are living with hosts to look out for our email asking for a share code, and we would like to thank all of the guests who have already provided share codes to us. We have done our best to provide clear instructions and translation but we have had difficulties translating the phrase "share code" into Ukrainian and Russian.
Guests can generate a share code here if they have an eVisa.
Guests who do not yet have an eVisa can still generate a share code here with their BRP card (even if it expired on 31 Dec 2024).
At this stage we are not asking for share codes from guests who are not living with a host.
Ukraine Permission Extension scheme
The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme will open for applications on 04 February 2025 - but when you can apply for a UPE visa will depend on when your existing visa expires.
For Ukrainian guests intending to apply for a UPE visa to extend their stay in the UK by a further 18 months, please remember that:
1. You need to have created a UKVI account and have access to your eVisa before applying for a UPE visa
2. The earliest you can apply for a UPE visa is within the last 28 days of your existing visa
3. You must be in the UK when you make your UPE application and you must remain in the UK until the UPE decision has been made
4. If you have a Biometric Residence Permit you should keep it (even if it has expired) because it may be helpful as part of the UPE application
5. In connection with a UPE application, temporary periods spent in Ukraine will not count as absences from the UK
If you apply for a UPE visa too early (more than 28 days before your current permission expires) your application will be rejected.
If you apply for a UPE visa after your current permission expires you will lose your current entitlements to work, rent and receive benefits until a decision is made on your UPE application.
Therefore it is very important that you know the accurate date that your existing permission expires so that you know when you can make your UPE visa application.
You can confirm the expiry date of your current visa by looking at your UKVI account/eVisa or by generating a share code.
Full details about the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme are available on the UK Government website (including translations).
eVisas
Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) expired on 31 December 2024, and have been replaced with eVisas. We believe there are still Homes For Ukraine guests in Lincolnshire who have still not set up their eVisa.
If you need help setting up your eVisa there are various organisations that are funded by the UK Government to help you.
If you don't have access to the internet or a smartphone or computer you can ask the We Are Group for help.
Vulnerable or elderly people can also ask for help. There is a list of different organisations helping in different parts of the country. The organisations helping people in Lincolnshire are:
- Migrant Help - evisa@migranthelpuk.org
- LEAN (Lincoln Embracing All Nations) - admin@lincoln-lean.org.uk
LEAN can offer appointments to help you with your eVisa, but these must be pre-booked via the email address above.
The UK Government has also released a YouTube video explaining the eVisa process (the video is in English but you can change the subtitles to different languages).
The UK Government has also recommended that Ukrainians keep their expired BRP cards even after applying for an eVisa because old BRPs may be needed in order to apply for the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme.
Permission to travel (PTT) letters
From around April 2022 to December 2023 the UK Government issued "permission to travel" letters (PTT letters) to Homes For Ukraine guests. These PTT letters meant that Ukrainians could come to the UK without going through the usual process of providing biometric information (fingerprints/facial photograph) before coming to the country.
The UK Government is bringing the use of PTT letters to an end. All issued PTT letters remain valid until 12 February 2025. From 13 February 2025 PTT letters will no longer be accepted as proof of the right to come to the UK.
If you have any guests who are still planning to use their PTT letters, please can you pass this information along to them. Other advice about the use of PTT letters can be obtained by calling the UKVI Ukraine helpline on 0808 164 8810.
Thank You Payments
January thank you payment date
We will be sending thank you payments to hosts on Wednesday 29 January. As usual these payments are sent by BACS and therefore should clear into your bank account within three working days - so payments should be with all hosts by Friday 31 January. Please wait for this clearing period to pass before contacting us to chase your payment.
Thank You payments are changing
On 26 November 2024 the UK Government released a statement of an upcoming change to thank you payments. We understand that UK Government also wrote to all Homes For Ukraine hosts on Friday 06 December 2024 regarding these changes.
Currently hosts are paid £350 a month for the first year. Then after a guest has been in the UK for 12 months the payments increase to £500 a month.
From April 2025 this will change as all payments will be at a flat rate of £350 a month, regardless of how long your guest has been in the UK. The £500 monthly rate is being discontinued.
As payments are made a month in arrears this means that April 2025 will be the final month we pay a mixture of £350 and £500 payments to hosts. From May 2025 all thank you payments will be £350 a month.
The payments will be £350 irrespective of whether the guests are on Homes For Ukraine visas or Ukraine Permission Extension visas.
If you think that the changes to thank you payments will impact on your ability to host beyond May 2025 please let us know by emailing homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk as soon as possible to help us understand how many guests may need to look for alternative accommodation. It is also important to talk to your guest about the options for their next steps with as much notice as possible.
Hosts should also note that they can switch their hosting arrangement to a formal lodging arrangement - there are details on the UK Government 'rent a room' website. If you do this please tell us so that we can stop your thank you payments (you cannot receive both rent and thank you payments).
Thank You payments for hosting close family members
On 01 October 2024 the UK Government announced a change to the policy around thank you payments. The policy change affects people who are hosting Homes For Ukraine guests who are close family members.
From now on we are no longer able to start making thank you payments to people hosting close family members on Homes For Ukraine visas.
The UK Government says we should continue making thank you payments to hosts of close family member if they were already receiving the thank you payments before 01 October 2024. However these thank you payments will end once the guests' Homes For Ukraine visas expire, even if the guests subsequently obtain Ukraine Permission Extension visas.
There is more information in the UK Government guidance - including who is or isn't defined as a "close family member" - but if you have any questions please email us at homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk and we can explain if you will be affected by this policy change.
Guest absences
We continue to see a lot of movement of guests in and out of the UK. We need to pause thank you payments if guests are absent from their hosts for more than 28 days.
We remind hosts and guests to let us know of any guest absences so that we can adjust thank you payments as necessary. Failure to notify us could result in us later reclaiming payments made to you.
Guests or hosts can contact us on homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk with the dates guests are intending to be away. We also understand that travel plans can change at short notice, given the fluid and difficult situation in Ukraine.
Education
Applying for University deadline
The deadline for applications for University places in September 2025 is 29 January 2025.
Full details are available on the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) website.
Education courses that go beyond visa length
We have had some reports of Homes For Ukraine guests struggling to enrol for college courses because their current HFU visa expires before the end of college course.
The UK Government have confirmed that Ukrainian adults attempting to join a course that is covered by the adult skills fund can be permitted to enrol for the course, even if their Homes For Ukraine visa runs out before the course ends, if they can confirm to the college that they will be applying for a Ukraine Permission Extension visa.
This is covered in the UK Government funding rules which state that "Where a course continues past a learner's visa expiry date, providers may at their discretion fund that learner only where they have a high degree of certainty that a learner intends to (and will be eligible to) renew their visa".
Ukraine Permission Extension visas are not a renewal of Homes For Ukraine visa - they are a completely different visa - but we have been advised by UK Government that they would still qualify here. So we believe that any HFU guests wanting to register for courses soon should be able to demonstrate that they will be able to complete the course by confirming that they will apply in due course for a UPE visa.
Other Help
National Databank
Homes For Ukraine guests may be eligible for free data/SIM card packages via the National Databank.
The National Databank was set up to help people living on low incomes or experiencing data poverty. There are more details on the National Databank website.
Driving Licence extension for Ukrainians
Ukrainians in the UK on Homes For Ukraine visas can currently drive small vehicles using their Ukrainian driving licence. Ukrainian licences can be used for up to 3 years.
The UK Government have not decided yet whether they will extend the right to drive on a Ukrainian licence to 4 and 1/2 years (to cover the period on a UPE visa). We will communicate and changes in a future newsletter.
The current time to use a Ukrainian licence for remains 3 years. Further information is available in the Homes For Ukraine guest guidance.
Ukrainian Community Groups in Lincolnshire
If you are looking to join a Ukrainian community group, visit the Ukraine support groups directory on our Homes For Ukraine Lincolnshire website.
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice is a charity that offers free support and advice. They can help with a range of issues including immigration and visa advice, claiming universal credit and other benefits. Citizens Advice can provide home visits in rural areas.
In Lincolnshire there is a dedicated helpline number and email address for Homes For Ukraine guests to use. If you would like to ask for help you can call 0344 847 6128 or email ukraine@citizensadvicesouthlincs.org.uk. Citizens Advice also have OISC level 1 qualified staff.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact Lincolnshire County Council's Homes For Ukraine team on: homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk.