Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 June 2022
184. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if he will extend the deadline of the immigration and international protection permissions beyond the 31 May 2022, in order to facilitate the many applicants who are waiting on a decision to continue working and living in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28233/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra186. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the situation in which the expiration of short-term visas in May 2022 will lead to a shortage of homecare workers; if she will address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28361/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 186 together.
Since the onset of the pandemic, immigration permissions have been extended nine times, which means that people who held a valid permission to be in the State in March 2020 were legally permitted to remain until 31 May 2022.
These extensions were made in the context of an uncertain health and international travel situation to provide assistance and assurance to people who use our immigration services.
Now that those circumstances are returning to normal, it is important that we also return to a more normal way of doing business. This includes in relation to first-time registrations and renewals, and processes and procedures are in place to allow customers to do so.
Dublin based customers who are seeking to renew their permission can continue to do so online at: inisonline.jahs.ie/user/login. Since its introduction in July 2020, the online renewal process has completed approximately 125,000 applications.
Customers wishing to renew an immigration permission may apply online up to 12 weeks in advance and are no longer asked to wait until four weeks in advance of their current permission’s expiration date. Current processing times are longer than usual because of extremely high demand. The Registration Office is working to process renewals as quickly as possible. Staff are supporting customers who have travel plans in place through the customer service helpdesk. Customers are asked to email my Department at immigrationsupport@justice.ie putting ‘Flights booked for Travel’ in the subject box. Customers should also include proof of paid flights in their name so that these applications can be prioritised.
As part of my Department’s ongoing work to meet the current unprecedented demand for first-time registration appointments, on 10 January 2022, a Freephone service (1800 741 741) was introduced for customers.
The current operating hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and all appointments for Dublin based customers to register their immigration permission for the first time are now issued through this service. Operators offer one appointment per call, unless it is for an identifiable family group. To date, the service has provided 17,405 appointments, with a further 10,459 appointments booked to early July 2022.
My Department's Registration Office customer service team is also available to support customers who may have language difficulties or who may need assistance with translation. A number of multi-lingual videos describing the registration process and what to expect are available on my Department's website www.irishimmigration.ie.
My Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay is responsible for registering immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only. First time registrations and renewals for customers outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) through the Garda Station network. The allocation of appointments with GNIB is a matter for An Garda Síochána.
I recognised that additional clarity regarding immigration arrangements post 31 May was required for some groups. In particular, for employees who may be awaiting the renewal of their Irish Residence Permit card and for English language students who intend to enrol in third level courses from September.
As I announced last week, non-EEA nationals can continue to work after 31 May if they can provide documentary evidence of their ongoing application to renew their immigration permission to their employer. For Dublin-based customers, the documentary evidence can include the email that customers receive from the Department’s immigration service confirming that they have submitted a renewal application. An online notice for employers has been published at:
www.irishimmigration.ie/notice-for-employers-may-2022/.
As in previous years prior to the pandemic, English language students who have completed their maximum three 8-month courses and who intend to enrol in third level for an undergraduate or graduate course beginning in the autumn, can apply for a short-term letter of permission based on their proof of application or enrolment. This will provide them with a bridging permission over the summer months until they start their course, which they can then register in the normal way.
