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UK Home Secretary Patel apologises for visa delays for Ukraine refugees
The BBC reported, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has apologised "with frustration" for visa delays that have prevented thousands of Ukrainian refugees entering the UK.
Ms Patel told BBC News that only a quarter of the Ukrainians granted visas, 12,000, have reached the UK.
Would-be sponsors of refugees have criticised bureaucracy and delay in the Homes For Ukraine scheme.
Home Office figures published on Friday show the government has granted 40,900 visas to Ukrainians fleeing the war.
Of the visas granted:
- 28,500 were issued under the Ukraine Family Scheme
- and 12,500 under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme which allow people to sponsor Ukrainian refugees
In terms of arrivals into the UK:
- 10,800 have arrived under the family scheme
- and 1,200 under the sponsorship scheme
Ms Patel said: "Completely, it's been frustrating. I apologise with frustration myself."
She added: "I'll be very candid, it has taken time. Any new scheme takes time, any new visa system takes time."
Ms Patel is the second government minister to apologise for the delays this week, following the refugees minister Lord Harrington, who told parliament that "not enough" visas had been issued.
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Britain's numbers are lower than those accepted in comparable European countries.
The German government said earlier this week it had accepted 300,000 Ukrainians, while 20,000 have arrived in Ireland.
Ms Patel: "Germany is an EU country. They don't have visa checks, their borders are open.
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"It's not like for like. We are an independent third country, and we want to give people the status and security of coming to our country, along with the warm welcome."
Source: BBC
