Jan. 31 (UPI) — The British government said Friday that immigrants from Ukraine can now bring their children to live with them for up to 18 months, a reversal of previous visa regulations.
In a statement, Britain’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the children “will have access to education, healthcare, benefits and employment as appropriate under U.K. law.”
The government said both the parent or guardian and the applicant child will have to meet all the Homes for Ukraine program requirements.
Last February the then-ruling Conservative Party suddenly without notice barred children of Ukrainians from getting visas to live in the country, preventing parents and guardians from bringing the children with them.
The Homes For Ukraine program was created to support Ukrainians moving to the Britain to live with members of the public throughout the country.
Ukrainian mother Valentyna told the BBC she hadn’t seen her son in six months because she had to leave him with relatives in Odessa when she fled the war. She said she hopes the change can reunite them.
Ukrainian parents seeking to bring their children to live in the U.K. won’t need to have settled status and they must offer living arrangements for the children for as long as their visas last.
