PRITI PATEL eased entry requirements for Ukrainian refugees to come to Britain today – but rights groups are warning that the measures still do not go far enough. 

From next Tuesday, Ukrainian refugees with passports can apply for visas online and submit biometric details once they’ve arrived in Britain, the Home Secretary announced. 

The policy reversal follows growing anger at bureaucratic delays facing Ukrainian refugees with family ties to Britain, hundreds of whom have found themselves stranded in Calais without support.  

Ms Patel told the Commons: “In short Ukrainians with passports will be able to get permission to come here fully online from wherever they are and will be able to give their biometrics while in Britain.”

The changes relate only to Ukrainians with passports applying for the family visa scheme.

Ms Cooper welcomed the change but questioned why it had taken till now for restrictions to be eased given the government had “intelligence for weeks if not months that a Russian invasion of Ukraine was going to happen.”

Ms Patel has continued to reject calls for a visa waiver for all Ukrainians with family ties, citing security reasons. 

Defending the government’s approach to Ukrainian refugees, Ms Patel also cited the Windrush scandal as an example of why it’s important for arrivals to have proper documentation. 

The scandal saw British citizens wrongly deported and detained because they could not prove their right to be in Britain – something they were only required to do after the introduction of Tory anti-immigration policies around 2014. 

Ukrainians will still be required to fill out forms which are only provided in English, Ms Patel confirmed, after an MP highlighted language difficulties faced by Russian and Ukrainian speakers. 

Refugee Council head of advocacy Andy Hewett said: “Whilst we welcome any step to ease the process for desperate Ukrainians in search of safety in this country, this announcement does not go anywhere near far enough.”

Mr Hewett said the government should instead temporarily waive visa requirements for all Ukrainians. 

Amnesty International CEO Sacha Deshmukh echoed calls for a full visa waiver, saying anything less “ought to be binned.

“The process is still full of red tape, with desperate and exhausted people still being required to provide birth certificates, proof of relationships and residence and with everything still needing to be translated into English,” he warned.