Ukrainian acquaintance seeking help

[DickyC]

A Ukrainian lad I worked with 17 years ago on a construction project for Heathrow has got in touch to ask if I'd sponsor him. He made clear he doesn't need to be sponsored financially and doesn't need help with accommodation as he has done okay and would just prefer to be in the UK for a while. He says he is asking me to sponsor him solely to clear administrative hurdles with immigration.

I mentioned Heathrow because it means he had a visa and some level of security clearance.

He speaks pretty good English and probably doesn't need help with form filling but I'm happy to provide the sort of help an English person in England can give a Ukrainian still in Ukraine. Possibly even a bit of rule bending.

What I'm concerned about is if I sign up for major rule bending like a phantom sponsorship and the authorities check, they will see we can't accommodate him and his family and it would put him in a worse position.

This morning I emailed him to suggest they come here on visitors' visas and use their presence here to find a legitimate way to stay.

They lived in Kharkiv but are now staying in western Ukraine.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a way to assist him and his family? Are there opportunities for interpreters for example?

[QuickQuack]

It would be better, easier and demonstrably legitimate if they came via the recognised sponsor route than a visitor visa, live with the sponsor for a short period, then, when their BRPs (biometric residence permits) have been issued, move out and live independently as they wish. However, the living with the sponsor bit does not have to be in the same property as the sponsor, they can be in a separate property if you don't have room in yours, for example. If they're originally from Kharkiv, they'll be in a pretty bad situation and I hope you can help get them out. I don't think this would be bending the rules in any way, shape or form at all, it's one of the worst hit areas.

I'm already a sponsor, we have a Ukrainian family staying with us long term, and I'm quite close to some British Ukrainians who have been helping hundreds of people find suitable matches (I've been involved to a degree as well). If you don't have room, depending on how big the family is, I might be able to accommodate them for a while, or help them find another willing sponsor. Drop me a PM via my profile and I'd be happy to chat about various ways of helping your friend.

Edited by QuickQuack on Saturday 11th June 07:55

[Byker28i]

Just sometimes PH is a brilliant place - well done...

[Far Cough]

QuickQuack said:

It would be better, easier and demonstrably legitimate if they came via the recognised sponsor route than a visitor visa, live with the sponsor for a short period, then, when their BRPs (biometric residence permits) have been issued, move out and live independently as they wish. However, the living with the sponsor bit does not have to be in the same property as the sponsor, they can be in a separate property if you don't have room in yours, for example. If they're originally from Kharkiv, they'll be in a pretty bad situation and I hope you can help get them out. I don't think this would be bending the rules in any way, shape or form at all, it's one of the worst hit areas.

I'm already a sponsor, we have a Ukrainian family staying with us long term, and I'm quite close to some British Ukrainians who have been helping hundreds of people find suitable matches (I've been involved to a degree as well). If you don't have room, depending on how big the family is, I might be able to accommodate them for a while, or help them find another willing sponsor. Drop me a PM via my profile and I'd be happy to chat about various ways of helping your friend.

Edited by QuickQuack on Saturday 11th June 07:55

Fantastic and well done you ...... Genuine question - Where do you stand with Tenant Landlord rules and also what happens if you decide to sell and your guest doesn't want to move or you just dont get on and they wont leave ??

[DickyC]

Thank you so much, QuickQuack. I will pass that on this evening.

I can sense his relief already.

[Porsche guy]

PH at its best ..

[dmahon]

If you do sponsor, the council do come around and check that you have adequate space etc. I don’t think they are particularly picky as my friend has 3 people sleeping in the loft space, but they do check.

[QuickQuack]

Far Cough said:

QuickQuack said:

It would be better, easier and demonstrably legitimate if they came via the recognised sponsor route than a visitor visa, live with the sponsor for a short period, then, when their BRPs (biometric residence permits) have been issued, move out and live independently as they wish. However, the living with the sponsor bit does not have to be in the same property as the sponsor, they can be in a separate property if you don't have room in yours, for example. If they're originally from Kharkiv, they'll be in a pretty bad situation and I hope you can help get them out. I don't think this would be bending the rules in any way, shape or form at all, it's one of the worst hit areas.

I'm already a sponsor, we have a Ukrainian family staying with us long term, and I'm quite close to some British Ukrainians who have been helping hundreds of people find suitable matches (I've been involved to a degree as well). If you don't have room, depending on how big the family is, I might be able to accommodate them for a while, or help them find another willing sponsor. Drop me a PM via my profile and I'd be happy to chat about various ways of helping your friend.

Edited by QuickQuack on Saturday 11th June 07:55

Fantastic and well done you ...... Genuine question - Where do you stand with Tenant Landlord rules and also what happens if you decide to sell and your guest doesn't want to move or you just dont get on and they wont leave ??

Tenant landlord rules are nothing new. As with everything, some landlords will be fine, some will be greedy, others won't. As it happens, I also happen to be a landlord. If a tenant wished to accomodate a Ukrainian refugee (or a refugee of another nationality to be honest) and the property is large enough, I'd be more than happy for them to do so. If anything, I'd be openly supportive. Some may not like the complexity, but from a legal perspective, I wouldn't see it any different to members of an extended household, e.g. adult children, or simple house/flat mates. It's up to each individual landlord though, and I agree that it should be the prerogative of the owner of the property however harsh that may be. I accept that it may be difficult if it feels that the landlord is withholding consent unreasonably. However, not all landlords are the same, or have the same plans (I have no intention of selling the property in the next 10-15 years), or their finances could suddenly change, meaning that they might need to sell, or have plans to sell. That's always a potential issue with small landlords like me. Evicting tenants who will not leave a rented property are fairly well established and I don't expect that would be any different if they're refugee family with the exception that the local council might rehouse them earlier. In short, tenants should speak to their landlords; some may agree, some may not, but it's always worth having the conversation. You may be pleasantly surprised.

If they're in your own home and you don't get on, that's obviously a different scenario. I think you have to expect that there will be times which will be difficult for everyone involved. We've certainly had our own unexpected issues, and continue to do so. However, whatever discomfort my family or I go through is nothing like our house being bombed, our neighbours and relatives being murdered and raped, our belongings looted or our country being invaded. Whenever there's been a difficulty, that's what I bring to my mind, and it pretty much instantly makes me realise that I have nothing to complain about. I can't think of much other than serious violence which would make me think that we would need to ask them to leave. As far as we're concerned, we agreed to provide a home, and that's what we will do for as long as it's needed, whatever it takes, however difficult it gets.

Saying all that, every single Ukrainian I have ment in the last few months (and I've met quite a lot now!), without any exception, has been genuinely grateful for the kindness that's been shown to them by their host families, they've been very keen to help with anything they can in the house, to try to work, to contribute something somehow. I'm sure I'll hear something bad at some point, but I haven't yet. Our difficulties have arisen from having a young mother with 2 very young children with her, with her husband, the children's father, stuck back home in Ukraine, and maybe a few earlier parenting errors with the kids. But then, we're older and wiser, we made those same mistakes 20 add years ago, so we learned from that and we're gradually turning things around and going from a grateful mother worn out by 2 difficult to control children, to a much more settled mother with far better behaved, and more importantly, happier children, having dinners as a family of up to 8, and all of us enjoying being together. One of our neighbours came round the other day when I was in the garden with the children, and she said that one day they would be leaving, and when that day came, she wasn't sure which one of us would have more tears streaming down our face! We have also had an unexpected message from the father/husband thanking us for doing so much for his wife and children, making them so happy here, and for knowing that he doesn't have to worry about them as he hears bombs going off. That is the reason that I know that there is no difficulty which we can't get through and which would make us ask them to leave.

[QuickQuack]

DickyC said:

Thank you so much, QuickQuack. I will pass that on this evening.

I can sense his relief already.

No problem at all. Once we communicate, you'd then have my details which you'd be welcome to pass on to him.

[QuickQuack]

dmahon said:

If you do sponsor, the council do come around and check that you have adequate space etc. I don’t think they are particularly picky as my friend has 3 people sleeping in the loft space, but they do check.

They sort of do. They visited us 2 months after our guests arrived!

[Far Cough]

QuickQuack said:

Tenant landlord rules are nothing new. As with everything, some landlords will be fine, some will be greedy, others won't. As it happens, I also happen to be a landlord. If a tenant wished to accomodate a Ukrainian refugee (or a refugee of another nationality to be honest) and the property is large enough, I'd be more than happy for them to do so. If anything, I'd be openly supportive. Some may not like the complexity, but from a legal perspective, I wouldn't see it any different to members of an extended household, e.g. adult children, or simple house/flat mates. It's up to each individual landlord though, and I agree that it should be the prerogative of the owner of the property however harsh that may be. I accept that it may be difficult if it feels that the landlord is withholding consent unreasonably. However, not all landlords are the same, or have the same plans (I have no intention of selling the property in the next 10-15 years), or their finances could suddenly change, meaning that they might need to sell, or have plans to sell. That's always a potential issue with small landlords like me. Evicting tenants who will not leave a rented property are fairly well established and I don't expect that would be any different if they're refugee family with the exception that the local council might rehouse them earlier. In short, tenants should speak to their landlords; some may agree, some may not, but it's always worth having the conversation. You may be pleasantly surprised.

If they're in your own home and you don't get on, that's obviously a different scenario. I think you have to expect that there will be times which will be difficult for everyone involved. We've certainly had our own unexpected issues, and continue to do so. However, whatever discomfort my family or I go through is nothing like our house being bombed, our neighbours and relatives being murdered and raped, our belongings looted or our country being invaded. Whenever there's been a difficulty, that's what I bring to my mind, and it pretty much instantly makes me realise that I have nothing to complain about. I can't think of much other than serious violence which would make me think that we would need to ask them to leave. As far as we're concerned, we agreed to provide a home, and that's what we will do for as long as it's needed, whatever it takes, however difficult it gets.

Saying all that, every single Ukrainian I have ment in the last few months (and I've met quite a lot now!), without any exception, has been genuinely grateful for the kindness that's been shown to them by their host families, they've been very keen to help with anything they can in the house, to try to work, to contribute something somehow. I'm sure I'll hear something bad at some point, but I haven't yet. Our difficulties have arisen from having a young mother with 2 very young children with her, with her husband, the children's father, stuck back home in Ukraine, and maybe a few earlier parenting errors with the kids. But then, we're older and wiser, we made those same mistakes 20 add years ago, so we learned from that and we're gradually turning things around and going from a grateful mother worn out by 2 difficult to control children, to a much more settled mother with far better behaved, and more importantly, happier children, having dinners as a family of up to 8, and all of us enjoying being together. One of our neighbours came round the other day when I was in the garden with the children, and she said that one day they would be leaving, and when that day came, she wasn't sure which one of us would have more tears streaming down our face! We have also had an unexpected message from the father/husband thanking us for doing so much for his wife and children, making them so happy here, and for knowing that he doesn't have to worry about them as he hears bombs going off. That is the reason that I know that there is no difficulty which we can't get through and which would make us ask them to leave.

Thats great thanks for your insight

[DickyC]

QuickQuack - I've PM'd you and emailed Artem. Sorry about my poor response yesterday, I posted the enquiry on Friday then went out all day yesterday.

[DickyC]

DickyC said:

QuickQuack - I've PM'd you and emailed Artem. Sorry about my poor response yesterday, I posted the enquiry on Friday then went out all day yesterday.

I think my PM may be in your junk folder.

[QuickQuack]

DickyC said:

DickyC said:

QuickQuack - I've PM'd you and emailed Artem. Sorry about my poor response yesterday, I posted the enquiry on Friday then went out all day yesterday.

I think my PM may be in your junk folder.

Sorry, just replied! It wasn't in junk, it's just that Sundays are usually quite hectic at Quack Towers, and this was a particularly busy one.

I'm sure we can get Artem's family sorted.

[Durzel]

Nothing constructive to add except to say that QuickQuack and whoever else is involved in doing this are basically modern day angels. Truly humbling to read.