Home Office has confirmed that 17,700 applications for the Ukrainian Family visa Scheme have begun.
So far, 8,900 applications have been completed and formally submitted. The Home Office said 640 applications have so far been confirmed, with 300 visas issued.
The Home Office's twitter account said: "Staff have been surged across Europe and within the UK to ensure applications can be processed as quickly as possible, while maintaining essential security checks."
This comes amid pressure on the Home Secretary Priti Patel to ensure that Ukrainian refugees can seek refuge in Britain.
It emerged over the weekend that only “around 50” visas had been given the green light under the Ukraine Family Scheme, according to the Home Office.
French interior minister Gerald Darmanin on Sunday said it was “inhumane” of the UK to turn away refugees arriving at the French port city if they did not have a valid visa.
More as it emerges...
