Sixteen weeks after submitting an application to offer refuge to a mother and her teenage son hoping to flee war-torn Ukraine, Peter Gosling in Chale has finally had good news about their visa applications.
As reported by News OnTheWight, the mother and her son initially had their visas approved many months ago, but after their first sponsor did not meet the criteria required, they had to start the process all over again.
Visas finally approved
Now Pete tells News OnTheWight that after writing to Home Secretary, Priti Patel, and threatening to go to the national media, two hours later the mother and her son received their visas.
This is fantastic news for all involved.
Drove more than 6,000km
When Peter got in touch with the Ukrainian mother to explain that he would be offering rooms in his home back in April, he says the mother loaded her car and drove to Rouen in France with aim of taking the ferry to Portsmouth, and then onward to the Island, in the hope that their visas would be re-granted without delay.
Peter explained,
“They waited in France, but as time went on they just ran out of money, so they returned home, driving back to Ukraine – they drove more than 6,000km to France and back and are now living back at home.”
Becoming desperate
As the weeks have gone on, shelling has got closer and closer to their tower block in Dnipro, and recently, Pete had lost contact with the mother for several weeks. Luckily it turned out to be down to Internet and mobile network outage, rather than bombing.
Here’s to a safe journey to the Isle of Wight for one of many families seeking refuge from the war. Let’s hope they make it in time to see our fields of sunflowers in full bloom.
Image: skyseeker under CC BY 2.0
