asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that unemployed Irish citizens are refused visas to holiday with relatives in the United States; if he will make representations to the United States authorities to have this practice ended; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Holiday Visas.
14.
My Department have taken the matter up with the US Embassy in Dublin and we have been assured that it is not US immigration policy to refuse holiday visas to unemployed Irish citizens. I am advised, however, that the relevant section of US law places on non-immigrant visa applicants the burden of overcoming a presumption that they are immigrants. In this connection I understand that before the US Embassy can grant holiday visas it is required under US law to ensure that the applicant has demonstrated compelling family, social, economic or other ties in Ireland which will oblige the individual to return here after a temporary stay in the US. If the US authorities are not satisfied on this count they are obliged to refuse the visa application. This rule is applied to all Irish citizens irrespective of their employment status.
I brought to the attention of the Minister in recent months a number of cases where Irish citizens seeking temporary visas for holidays and weddings in the US were refused. Will the Minister undertake to raise this matter with the American authorities to ensure that the law is applied in a more flexible manner? I understand we are not in a position to change the law of the US but would the Minister ask that the law be applied in a more flexible manner and that assurances and guarantees from public representatives be accepted by the US authorities when guaranteeing the bona fides of these applicants?
I am taking the matter up with the American authorities. I certainly deplore any discrimination in this area. I have raised with them individual cases along the lines mentioned by Deputy De Rossa and I will take the matter up again with the authorities there because it is certainly wrong that less well off or unemployed people should be discriminated against. I agree with the Deputy.