Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
983. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the discrepancy in processing times for join family visas where the sponsor is an Irish citizen, in Category A or Category B, compared to where the sponsor is from another European Union Member State; and the steps being taken to decrease processing times. [1097/25]
View answerI understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and I want to assure anyone who has an application for a join family visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.
Processing times for these applications are influenced by a number of factors including the type and complexity of application, individual circumstances, the volume of applications and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged.
Processing times may also be affected by the legal basis on which the application is made.
Where an applicant is a family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, who is exercising their rights under EU law their visa application must be processed in accordance with relevant EU Law (Directive 2004/38/EC) as a qualifying family member or permitted family member. It is important to note that such visa applications are only applications to travel to the State and do not give permission to reside in the State. If a visa is granted, that person must make a further application to reside in Ireland after they arrive here.
Applications where the sponsor is an Irish citizen are not subject to a statutory timeframe process for the initial visa but are processed in accordance with the Join Family policy document. The initial visa application may take longer to process as it consists of an application to travel to the State together with a full assessment and application to reside in the State.
I am acutely aware that join family applications, are very important for the persons impacted and I am committed to improving the service my Department provides. In recent months, I have assigned additional resources and staff to my Department’s visa division which I expect reduce the waiting times for family applications in the coming months.
