Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 May 2016
47. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the procedure a person (details supplied) must follow in upgrading to stamp 4 preparatory to applying for naturalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12355/16]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that Long Term Residency is granted on the basis that a non EEA national has completed a minimum of five years' (i.e. 60 months) legal residence in the State on work permit conditions which is reflected in the corresponding Stamp 1 or Stamp 4 endorsements on a person's passport and not by the dates of commencement and expiry of each work permit or equivalent document as some applicants assume.
The person in question made an application for Long Term Residence by letter dated 22/12/2014. A decision was made on this application on 28/01/2015 and a letter issued to the person outlining the reasons for the refusal of the application. It is open to the person concerned to submit a new application for Long Term Residency once they obtain the minimum 60 month reckonable residency under the required conditions of the Long Term Residency Scheme.
The Deputy will be aware that 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.
