SAFE AND LEGAL ROUTES INTO THE UK 

Millions of people have been forced to leave their homes across the world. The vast majority are displaced within their own country, or go to neighbouring countries. A very small proportion, seek sanctuary (asylum) in the UK, and the Government has established a number of schemes that are focused on resettling some of the most vulnerable of the refugees (See FAQs  for some useful statistics, the difference between Asylum and Resettlement and why are refugees coming to the UK).  

The current safe and legal routes into the UK are the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Afghan Citizen's Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), Homes for Ukraine scheme, Community Sponsorship, and Family Reunification. The ACRS contains two routes for locally employed staff (LES).   

 UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS)
Image: Alice Aedy / Instagram.com

Former Prime Minister, David Cameron, made a 4 year commitment that aimed to resettle 20,000 refugees in the UK by 2020 under the Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme (VPRS). At the end of March 2020 when the program was paused due to the pandemic, it had settled 19,768.    

The scheme took a portion of refugees, mainly from Syria,  that were identified by UNHCR as particularly vulnerable, and they do not have to go through the asylum process. 

In June 2019, the government announced that a new consolidated global resettlement scheme would replace the VPRS, the VCRS (Vulnerable Children's Resettlement Scheme), and Gateway Protection Programs, from April 2020.  

The UK government has said they aim to continue to welcome 5000 refugees a year, and although this news is welcomed there are have been no firm commitments made and divided out to constituencies. It's worth considering that if the 650 constituencies in the UK took an equal share, this target means just 8 refugees per constituency per year.  

In Surrey, the commitment to take families under the UKRS happens at a borough level.

Elmbridge Borough Council has taken 7 families so far through the resettlement schemes since 2016, and have committed to settle up to 15 families subject to finding suitable properties and the government re-starting the scheme. It has also committed to taking 5 families under the Afghan Locally Employed Staff (ALES) Relocation Scheme. 
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Find out how you can help resettle refugee families in Elmbridge. ​​
 Global Refugee Resettlement Scheme Government Announcement  
Elmbridge Borough Council Support for those fleeing Afghanistan
Inspection report on resettlement scheme waiting times 
  Refugee Action: Channel Crossings: We need safe and legal routes because asylum is a human right.   

Afghan Citizen's Resettlement Scheme (ACRS)
The UK government have stated that the ACRS prioritises:
  • Those who have assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for values such as democracy, women’s rights, freedom of speech, and rule of law
  • Vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups at risk (including ethnic and religious minorities and LGBT+)
More information can be found on this government webpage.

Within the ACRS there are currently two schemes designed to help current and former locally employed staff (LES) who worked with the British military in Afghanistan relocate to the UK.  The two schemes are the ex-gratia scheme (EGS), which is winding down and will end in November 2022, and the Afghan relocations and assistance policy (ARAP). 

Applications for LES to relocate to the UK should be made via the ARAP rather than the EGS. You can read more about the ARAP and application process here. 

Elmbridge council has committed to taking 5 families under the (LES) relocation scheme. 
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Find out how you can help resettle refugee families in Elmbridge. ​

Homes for Ukraine
The Homes for Ukraine scheme opened on 18th March 2022 and seeks to find hosts in the UK for individuals or households fleeing Ukraine. 

Applications can be made by the UK sponsor(s) or by people coming from Ukraine and each Ukrainian individual needs to complete a separate application. The sponsor must be able to provide a place to stay for a minimum of six months.

If people coming from Ukraine do not already have a named sponsor they can apply for the Scottish Government or Welsh Government to sponsor them through their Devolved Government Sponsorship Schemes. However, new applications are currently paused through this scheme. 

As of July 2022, over 120,000 visas have been issued through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. However, this has been accompanied by widespread criticism of the scheme due to a large number of hosting situations breaking down and leaving Ukrainians homeless. 

Find out more about the scheme and how to host Ukrainian individuals or households.

Community Sponsorship 
Image: Salvation Army - Raynes Park Community Sponsors
An alternative way to help refugees find sanctuary in the UK, by allowing community groups to become directly involved in supporting the resettlement of refugees fleeing the Syrian Conflict.  Most regions in the UK have one or more community sponsorship groups running. ​Since its inception in 2016, 449 refugees have been resettled this way (source: Home Office)   

Anyone can get involved in community sponsorship as long as the group has the backing of their local authority, and is able to support an allocated family for one year to: 
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  • live independent lives in the UK
  • access English lessons and schools
  • access benefits
  • access healthcare
  • access employment

The Community Sponsors are also expected to source accommodation for two years.  but are not expected to cover the cost of it.   
Becoming  a community sponsor in Elmbridge
The organisation that helps communities to make it happen. Reset UK

Other important safe & legal routes to the UK for refugees
UNACCOMPANIED ASYLUM SEEKING CHILDREN

​Elmbridge CAN was initially formed in 2015 when a group of local residents were upset by the government's refusal to help young unaccompanied asylum seeking children in Calais, and campaigned for the Dubs amendment which aimed to help these young people. Although the main thrust of our work has moved away from this we support the work of charities such as Safe Passage which campaign for safe and legal routes for asylum seeking children. Locally, we work with the Big Leaf foundation which supports young asylum seekers and refugees.

Adult refugees who have been granted asylum in the UK have a right to be reunited with their partner or child (if their child is under 18). But child refugees in the UK are denied the right reunite with their families.
 
FAMILY REUNION
​The rules on family reunion are very restrictive. Family members who would be separated because of this legislation might include:
  • Parents in the UK with older children (over 18) living in a refugee camp overseas.
  • Siblings whose parents were killed in war.
  • Children separated from their parents while fleeing conflict.
The Government’s policy has been widely criticised and various campaigns are trying to influence change.
Safe Passage Dubs latest developments
SafePassage Family Reunion latest developments
Help Refugees legal challenge​
  #FamiliesTogether campaign