Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Accepted
Initial staff increase improved Homes for Ukraine visa processing, but turnaround times subsequently lengthened.
Conclusion
The Home Office also increased the number of people working on the Homes for Ukraine scheme. From a minimum of 165 staff working on the scheme in March 2022, this number grew to over 1,000 by June 2022 working across all Ukraine schemes. This included 554 officials from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP). By April and May 2022, 95% and 87% of cases were processed within 15 working days respectively. By July 2023, the Home Office had processed 77% of the more than 182,000 visa applications it had received within 15 working days. However, the turnaround times have largely taken longer since June 2022. The number of applications which took, or will take, more than 15 working days to process increased from 19% of applications submitted in June 2022 to 63% in July 2023.14
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's implied recommendation regarding visa processing times and states it has implemented a formal 15-working-day customer service standard for Homes for Ukraine applications from February 2024, which will be published quarterly. It also ensures sufficient resources are in place and contingency plans exist for future application surges.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendations. Recommendation implemented 3.2 As part of ‘normalising’ the operational delivery of Homes for Ukraine, the Home Office has formally introduced a 15 working day customer service standard from February 2024 which will be published quarterly as part of the migration transparency data. 3.3 This information will be captured and recorded in line with existing processes on other visa routes and will include all non-complex applications, as well as any complex applications which can still be processed within 15 days. 3.4 To ensure targets on processing times can be met, the Home Office has used data on application volumes over the last few months to ensure there is sufficient resource in place to process new applications, whilst also resolving any outstanding complex applications as and when the relevant checks are complete. 3.5 Should there be a future surge in applications due to a change in circumstances in Ukraine, the Home Office will be able to urgently reprioritise the deployment of resource within the department’s operational teams, as demonstrated in the early months of the war. This time, there are caseworkers available who have experience of Homes for Ukraine and the necessary processes and casework systems are already in place to enable an effective response to any increase in volumes.