Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 7 September 2018
473. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average time for decisions in respect of applications for visas lodged with the visa office in Delhi; the reason for the delay in processing these applications; the reason adequate staff resources have not been made available to deal with increased demand for these visas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36003/18]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the New Delhi Visa Office is currently experiencing high volumes of visa applications due to seasonal demands at this time of year. This is in line with similar trends from previous years and, more generally, points to an increase in visa applications from people wishing to come to Ireland for a whole variety of reasons.
That said, I am informed that business and conference visas are currently being processed within three to ten days. Study visas at this time are being processed within eight weeks. Employment visas are currently within the time-frame of four to six weeks. Visit visas are within a time frame of seven to ten weeks. Processing times for long stay visas invariably take longer and are generally determined by the volume of applications received, the particular merits of individual applications, their complexity, whether the need to investigate or inquire further, and the resources available.
The Deputy can be assured that every effort is made to keep processing times to a minimum, and a number of measures have been put in place to deal with the expected demand this summer. This includes the assignment of additional staff to help process these applications, and more generally the streamlining of visa processing where possible. The position in this regard continues to be kept under review.
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.
In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to visamail@justice.ie.
