Family Reunification

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

Questions (1508, 1509, 1543, 1544)

David Cullinane

Question:

1508. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Justice if she will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39862/22]

Bríd Smith

Question:

1509. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will examine and review the family reunification issuing of visa process, especially in the case of Nigerian and Ghanaian nurses who are working in Ireland and hold critical skills employment permits who are waiting extremely long periods of time to obtain visas for family members to join them resulting in a negative impact on their mental health; the steps that she will take to improve the time it is taking to issue these visas to family members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39865/22]

Paul Murphy

Question:

1543. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if his attention to the delays experienced by migrant nurses from Ghana and Nigeria working in Ireland who are trying to bring their families to join them; and if she will facilitate the Nigerian and Ghanaian family reunification for critical skill permit holders under the category A division which states that any individual with such permit has the right for immediate family reunification. [40144/22]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1544. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the reason that some nurses from Nigeria and Ghana who are registered and working in Ireland are currently waiting up to 12 months for their applications of family unification visas to be processed compared to their colleagues from other countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe and India whose applications are processed in a few weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40151/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1508, 1509, 1543 and 1544 together.

Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in my Department's Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification, which can be found on my Department's immigration website: www.irishimmigration.ie.

The Policy Document contains a stated business target that visa applications for family reunification for immediate family members of Irish citizens and Category A sponsors, such as Critical Skills Employment Permit Holders, should be processed within six months of application. A 12 month target applies for applications to join Category B sponsors, such as Non Critical Skills Employment Permit Holders or Stamp 4 holders not covered by other arrangements.

However, it must be clarified that these are business targets and do not a constitute legal obligation. The business targets reflect the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.

If a person is working in the State on an atypical permission they are present on a short stay permission which gives no family reunification rights. It is only when they receive a Critical Skills Employment Permit that they then become a Category A sponsor and they can make an application for family members to join them.

All Join Family visa applications are processed in chronological order based on date order of receipt in the relevant Embassy or Visa Office. Processing times for each individual Visa Office overseas will vary as a result of the differing volume and complexity of applications and the resources available in that office. It may also be necessary for officials of my Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information in relation to particular applications.

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 increased demand for visas to come to Ireland. This has included the streamlining of visa processes where possible. The position in this regard is being kept under review.

The central concern in deciding on visa applications, as with all visa services worldwide, is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime while at the same time facilitating travel for those who meet the criteria. Each visa application is therefore decided on its own merits taking all factors into account.

Question No. 1509 answered with Question No. 1508.