Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 January 2014
246. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding long-term residency status and long-term eligibility for naturalisation - stamp 4 update - in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2134/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to by the Deputy arrived in the State on 30/12/2006 and was registered as a student until 31/12/2013.
The person concerned does not have an application pending with INIS. However, all non-EEA students resident in the State are subject to the student immigration rules set out under the "new immigration regime for full time non-EEA students" which has been in effect since 1 January 2011. These rules stipulate that non-EEA nationals may reside in Ireland as students, subject to the provisions of the new regime, for a maximum period of seven years. The person referred to by the Deputy arrived in the State and was registered on 15/01/2007 and as such she has accumulated her 7 years as a student. She does not qualify for a stamp 4 status.
As this person's permission has expired she will have to leave the State unless she is the holder of a work permit or has been granted another form of immigration permission.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically 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 Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
