Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 January 2016
185. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider upgrading stamp 2 to stamp 4 for persons (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1777/16]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the persons mentioned by the Deputy who entered the State as students in 2006 have now exhausted the time allowed for students in the State. As an exceptional measure they were issued with permission on 12 November 2014 for one year to afford them the opportunity to apply to the for an employment permit based position.
All non-EEA students resident in the State are subject to the student immigration rules set out under the "new immigration regime for full time non-EEA students" which was published in September 2010 and has been in effect since 1 January 2011. These rules stipulate that non-EEA nationals may reside in Ireland as degree students, subject to the provisions of the new regime, for a maximum period of seven years. Three years are permitted at non-degree level. As such they do not qualify for Stamp 4 status.
An application was received from the persons named on 16 November 2015. This application will be processed in due course.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
