Priority admin checklist

If you haven't done so already when your guests' visas were approved, your very first job is to email your local council to let them know to make sure your guests get their £200/person as soon as possible. Click Welcome Payment for what to do, as each Local Authority has a different system


Top jobs immediately on arrival:


  • SIM card, needed for bank and Universal Credit (3 give 1 month free in store while you source better ones, Red Cross give 3 month ones but take a while to come, Vodafone give 6 month ones but need to get through a charity) Click Offers for some SIM deals detail

  • Bank Account - Click Banking for more details on what is needed

  • Universal Credit can only be done online. Can be done before bank account but not before SIM. Doesn't get back dated and takes 4-6 weeks to kick in, do as soon as possible on arrival. Click Benefits for more detail about what is needed and how to do it.

  • Red Cross £50 – 0808 196 3651 option 3 within 14 days of arrival to access £50 grant/person. Open between 10am-6pm. Guest has to call, not host. Click Benefits for more detail


Then rest and do the following:


  • Apply for Biometric Residence Permit (BPR), if needed (needed, if came in on Ukrainian International Passport, as opposed to having submitted biometrics at a Visa Application Centre to gain a visa without an International Passport) Click Immigration to find out how to do it and how you get a BPR if you haven't got an International Passport

  • National Insurance number comes from applying for Universal Credit or can be applied for online separately Click Benefits to find out how to do it.

  • Child benefit, print off forms, can't be done without bank account, but will backdated up to 3 months. Click Benefits to find out how to do it.

  • School, and application for free school meals, needs to be done in the first week. The children legally need to be enrolled, if too traumatised to attend straight away don't delay enrolment but arrange with school appropriate start. Click Benefits to find out how to do it.

  • Registering with a doctor (GP). Click General health Information to find out about registering with a GP and other NHS medical service. Click Dental Care for information about dental services

  • ESOL, for English lessons. Check with your country council/council they often have courses that are free for people on Universal Credit. Click English Classes to learn what is available locally, and visit the Language Section to find out about all the options.