‘A humiliating process’: Ukrainians caught in red tape trying to reach UK relatives
Visa applicants say they are struggling with bureaucracy, unclear guidance and getting stuck in expensive hotels
British families trying to help Ukrainian relatives get to safety in the UK have expressed frustration and fury at the continued bureaucratic and technical hurdles involved, despite government promises to cut the red tape involved in the family reunification scheme.
Applicants said they were struggling with a range of problems - such as online application forms that crash, difficulty in getting clear guidance from helpline staff, some advice hotlines charging premium rates of 69p a minute, delays in visa processing times and extended, expensive stays in hotels in unfamiliar countries with no clarity about when visas will be granted.
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