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Visa Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 September 2021

Wednesday, 15 September 2021

Questions (567)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

567. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider a visa extension beyond 20 September 2021 for stamp two visas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43934/21]

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Written answers

Yesterday, Minister Humphreys and I announced a final temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions to 15 January 2022. 

This final extension of immigration permissions provides that people who held a valid permission to be in the State in March 2020 are legally permitted to remain until 15 January 2022, even if their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card has expired and they are awaiting a new one.

It will also provide people with the necessary time to make arrangements with the Immigration Service of my Department in Dublin or An Garda Síochána outside Dublin to ensure that their immigration registrations are renewed in the normal way by that date. I strongly encourage everyone requiring registration to do so at the earliest opportunity and not to wait until January, when demand may be high.

All renewals in the Dublin area are being processed online only since 20 July 2020, at: https://inisonline.jahs.ie. Renewals outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) through the Garda Station network. Information on the contact details for all the registration offices outside Dublin is available at: www.garda.ie/en/contact-us/station-directory.

Renewal is on the same basis as the existing permission and the same conditions will continue to apply. Special arrangements will, however, apply for international students, including English language students, as set out below.

For international English Language Students, this final extension of permissions will allow those students on a Stamp 2 permission, who may have been unable to attend face-to-face classes during the pandemic, to attend in-person over the coming weeks.

Students who have already completed the maximum number of three language courses may continue to work in line with the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) criteria until 15 January 2022 without enrolling in a further English language course. However, they must register for a new qualifying immigration permission by 15 January 2022 to ensure they can remain in the State after that date.

Third level graduates who hold a 1G permission but were unable to secure work during the pandemic may apply to my Department for a 12-month extension of that permission. Students on a Stamp 2 can apply to transfer to a Stamp 1G once they meet the conditions. Applications can be made online and further information is available at: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Third-level-graduate-programme.pdf. 

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