Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2021
144. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the options a person (details supplied) has to renew their stamp 4 spousal visa which is due to expire at the same time as their passport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16215/21]
View answerThe difficulties faced by people regarding their ability to obtain new passports at this time are noted by my Department. I recognise that this is clearly a very difficult situation for all involved. The Immigration Service of my Department is not in a position to provide assistance with obtaining new or replacement national passports and the issuance of same is a matter for the authorities in the country of the person concerned and the individual seeking the passport.
Notwithstanding this, to facilitate applicants who find themselves in this difficult situation and who are awaiting a new/extended document, the Immigration Service will examine each case on its own merits with a view to issuing a six month immigration permission pending receipt of the new/extended document. Applicants should include evidence of their attempts to make an application for a new/extended document when applying to renew their registration with the Immigration Service.
The immigration permission of the person referred to by the Deputy is covered by the latest automatic extension of immigration permissions to 20 April 2021, which I provided in response to the pandemic. Any further extension of permissions will be considered based on Government and NPHET advice in response to public health requirements and restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
