Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004
262 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the guidelines applicable regarding the reason for the granting or refusal of visas on the basis of finances; and if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32056/04]
View answerThe visa application to which the Deputy refers was to enable the child of a non-EEA national employed under the work permit scheme to reside with his mother in the State. A person employed under the work permit scheme can, after he or she has been in the State for one year and has been offered a contract for a further year, apply for his or her spouse and minor children to join him or her in the State. With regard to the refusal or granting of visas on the basis of finances, the worker must be able to fully support the family members in question without the need to recourse to public funds.
When assessing such an application, the visa officer will consider, amongst other things, whether the level of salary of the worker comes within the ambit of qualifying for payments from public funds. In this regard, the criteria set by the Department of Social and Family Affairs for eligibility for family income supplement payments are used. The criteria, which may change from time to time, are available on that Department's website www.welfare.ie/publications/sw22.html. If the level of the worker’s income as evidenced by his or her payslips or P60 would qualify him or her for FIS payments, the application seeking permission for a minor to join with the worker is generally refused as it is evident that the family can seek recourse to public funds.
