Ukrainian woman left distraught after she was told to leave the UK by Home Office
Anastasiia arrived in the UK in mid-December 2023, aiming to reunite with her parents who had fled Ukraine following the war. Upon her arrival, it was discovered that there were irregularities with her visa
A 20-year-old Ukrainian woman, Anastasiia Drevynytska, has been left helpless and distraught after the UK Home Office instructed her to return to her war-torn country due to visa irregularities. Anastasiia arrived in the UK in mid-December 2023, aiming to reunite with her parents who had fled Ukraine following the war. Upon her arrival, it was discovered that there were irregularities with her visa, which she had applied for through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
In an interview with The Guardian, she recounted how a Ukrainian man had offered to handle the paperwork for her application in exchange for payment, enabling her to travel to the UK to join her parents. However, upon arrival, she realized the paperwork was incorrect and that she had been deceived.
The Home Office granted her six months of temporary leave, set to expire on 19 June. She has since received a letter from the Home Office requesting her return to Ukraine, although it is not the government's policy to forcibly repatriate refugees to active war zones.
"I'm terrified of being sent back to Ukraine where missiles can strike at any moment," she expressed. "My parents were extremely concerned about me while I was in Ukraine; they were anxious every time there was an air raid warning. They always insisted that I take shelter."
The letter also outlined the consequences of remaining in the UK unlawfully, which could include fines, imprisonment, deportation, and a ban on re-entry.
Anastasiia mentioned that she has exhausted all options to rectify her situation since discovering the error in her paperwork, including reaching out to the Home Office, her local council, and an immigration adviser, but to no avail. No solution has been presented to her.
