Michael Ring
Ceist:339. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice the number of people currently awaiting a decision on their visa appeals (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43522/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 10 October 2023
Ceisteanna (339, 340)
Michael Ring
Ceist:340. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice the reason it is taking so long for people to get visas to travel into the State; the number of people currently waiting for a visa to be approved or waiting for an visa appeal to be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43523/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together.
I can inform the Deputy that over 134,000 visa applications have been received this year. As of 29 September 2023, there are 19,695 applications awaiting a decision at first instance. These figures represent all applications made in the Visa Offices overseas, the Immigration Service Visa Office in Dublin, and at Embassies of the Department of Foreign Affairs which process certain visa applications under delegated sanction from my Department.
As of 29 September 2023, there are 3,473 visa applications awaiting a decision at appeal stage.
In relation to the specific visa office referred to in your query, there are currently 23 applications at appeal stage with that office. The table below shows the breakdown of these applications
|
Visa Type |
Number of applications |
|
Visit |
14 |
|
Study |
4 |
|
Join Family |
3 |
|
EU Treaty Rights |
2 |
The central concern, as with all visa services worldwide, in deciding on visa applications and visa appeals, 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 and appeal application is therefore decided on its own merits taking all relevant factors into account.
The processing time for visas is determined by a number of factors, such as the volumes and complexity of applications, peak application periods and the resources available. While every effort is made to process such applications as quickly as possible, processing times inevitably vary as a result of these factors.
Question No. 340 answered with Question No. 339.