Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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894. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide details of the average processing time for the join spouse visa - spouse of an Irish national; the steps she is taking to reduce these processing times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27743/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Long Stay Join Family visa can currently be processed in either of the seven overseas visa offices, or in the visa office in Dublin. The overseas visa offices are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi.

Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This policy document may be accessed at the following link: irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-document-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf

All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of the Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available to each processing team. All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on the immigration website. Applicants that follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance.

The Deputy will find expected visa decision timeframes, broken down by location, as of 12 June 2023 in the table below:

New decisions are published on the visa pages of each of the seven overseas visa offices and processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following page, which is updated every Tuesday: irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/