Niamh Smyth
Ceist:447. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice how many applications are currently in the system for the join family (sponsor is an Irish citizen) visa. [21423/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 14 May 2024
Ceisteanna (447)
Freagraí scríofa
I am acutely aware that Join family visa applications are very important for non-EEA nationals living and working in the State and acknowledge that improvements can be made.
I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. As of 09 May 2024 there were 997 Type D long stay applications awaiting a first instance decision. It should be noted that this figure includes the following categories:
• Join Family (Irish national)(de facto partner),
• Join Family (Irish national)(other)
• Join Family (Irish national)(spouse)
I can further advise that while the current processing times for join family visa applications may vary across the different visa decision making centres globally, that processing times are largely in line with the expected processing times published across the Immigration Service Delivery websites of 6 months for Irish citizens / Category A sponsors and 12 months for Category B sponsors such as General Employment Permit holders.
Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following link which is updated each Tuesday: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
Processing times and decisions at the seven overseas Visa Offices are available on the website of Department of Foreign Affairs.