Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 May 2018
288. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for a join family Irish national spouse visa by a person (details supplied) will be processed and granted to allow them to return home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20794/18]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the application referred to was received by the Visa Office in Dublin on 28 March 2018. All visa applications are dealt with in chronological order by date of receipt within the particular category.
Such applications, where the sponsor is an Irish national, can normally be expected to be dealt with within 6 months of receipt of all the required documentation, as set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This is a business target which reflects the detailed assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification. It does not constitute a legal obligation and such applications may take longer due to the individual circumstances or complexity of the application.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to 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 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).
