The website for registering interest in the Homes for Ukraine scheme crashed as upto 10,000 people an hour signed up.
Until Monday, only Ukrainians who had family ties to the UK could apply for visas that would give them access to work and benefits. From yesterday Britons could ‘sponsor’ Ukrainians without links to the UK to live in their home for a minimum of six months, for which they would receive a £350 monthly payment which will not affect benefit entitlements or council tax status.
At 9am this morning, Tuesday 15th March, 88,712 had registered to joined the scheme which will see refugees allowed to live and work in the UK for up to three years and receive full and unrestricted access to benefits, healthcare, employment and other support.
The Foreign Office minister, James Cleverly, said “10,000 people every hour” were signing up.
