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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 3

Written Answers. - US Visa Programme.

Seamus Kirk

Ceist:

136 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the special United States visa programme for the Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5879/99]

The Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Bill passed the United States House of Representatives and Senate by unanimous consent and was signed into law by President Clinton on 30 Octover 1998. The Act amends US immigration law to insert a new visa programme called the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training (Q-2) Visa Programme. This programme will allow 4,000 people a year aged 35 or under and having residence in Northern Ireland or the six Border counties to come to the US for a period of not more than three years for the purpose of developing job skills and conflict resolution abilities. The new legislation is substantially the same as that proposed by the New York-based Irish Immigration Reform Movement, with a downward adjustment in the number of visas available and the length of stay allowed. The only substantial amendment was the dropping of a waiver that would have allowed un-documented Irish people already in the US to benefit from the programme.

The legislation provided for the programme to be approved by both the Attorney General (the Immigration and Naturalisation Service) and the Secretary of State. The consultation process is well under way and will have to be completed before the programme can be put in place and applications can be accepted. It is expected that this process will take some more months to complete. The Embassy in Washington will continue closely to monitor progress.

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