Written Answers Nos. 79-84
79. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the options available to persons (details supplied) in upgrading residency status to stamp 4; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8760/16]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the persons in question entered the State under student conditions in 2006 and as such they are subject to the Student pathway.
I understand from INIS that as an exceptional measure, on 17 February 2016, the persons mentioned were granted permission to remain in the State as timed out students for a period of 18 months on the same conditions as student vacation periods. This permission allows them to source employment for which a work permit is required.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
80. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she can waive the requirement for a passport from a person's homeland (details supplied) in the context of determining eligibility for naturalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8761/16]
View answerPersons making an application for a certificate of naturalisation are required to provide satisfactory evidence of their identity and nationality. This is usually in the form of a currently valid passport and may include other original supporting documents, such as a birth certificate and marriage certificate. In rare circumstances where an applicant cannot produce their passport or other supporting documents the applicant will be required to provide a full explanation. Such explanation should be supported by satisfactory evidence that they have attempted to obtain such documentation and correspondence from the relevant authorities responsible for the issuing of passports in their country, clearly stating the reasons the documentation cannot be provided. INIS will consider the reasons given and, if satisfied it is for reasons genuinely beyond the applicant's control, may suggest alternative means to the person to assist in establishing their identity and nationality.
In this particular case, correspondence issued to the person concerned on 27 January 2016 and reminders on 2 February 2016 and 29 February 2016, requesting her national passport or satisfactory explanation from the relevant authorities stating a reason why a passport is unobtainable. Upon receipt of the requested information, or in the event that the person does not respond, the case will be further processed and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and I know the Deputy will appreciate that it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS 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 INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
81. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when she will facilitate a family reunification for a person (details supplied). [8762/16]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the applications referred to by the Deputy were received by the Visa Office in Dublin on 8/12/2015 and are currently awaiting examination. This office is currently processing applications of this type received on 2/11/2015. Officials will be in contact with the applicants and sponsor as soon as a decision is made.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS 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.
In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to INIS (visamail@justice.ie).
82. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the procedure a person (details supplied) must follow to regularise residency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8765/16]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 3 October 2011 and therefore has no entitlement to residency in the State.
Representations were received from the person concerned pursuant to Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to revoke the Deportation Order. The Deputy might wish to note that any such decision will be to 'affirm' or to 'revoke' the existing Deportation Order. In the mean-time, the Deportation Order remains valid and in place.
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.
83. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to renew stamp 4 for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8767/16]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned held an immigration permission which expired on 4 March, 2016.
I am generally aware that foreign nationals living in the State can encounter difficulties in the area of obtaining or renewing passports particularly when there is no embassy or consulate here to assist. As you will appreciate, the conditions under which a national passport is issued or renewed are essentially a matter between the citizen and the national government.
As the current immigration permission of the person referred to by the Deputy has expired, they should apply for renewal of this permission with the Garda National Immigration Bureau and provide evidence that they have been in contact with their embassy for consular assistance. I understand from INIS that the individual in question may be able to obtain a consular identification card, from the nearest embassy, which they can present to their local immigration office to enable them to be registered for a further period.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been 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 Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
84. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 278 of 14 April 2016, to facilitate the provision of stamp 4 residency for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8768/16]
View answerI have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, as previously advised, the person in question currently holds an immigration permission (Stamp 2) until 5th December 2016. No application nor information has been received by my Department regarding any change of status.
Queries in relation to the Status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been 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 Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
