Written answers

Wednesday, 26 January 2005

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Visa Applications

9:00 pm

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 742: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 279 of 7 December 2004, the specific income limits in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Clare in bringing their family here; the reasons for refusal in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1292/05]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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At the outset I should say that I fully acknowledge that decisions in these matters should recognise the needs of persons coming to Ireland to work and be in accordance with the broad needs of the Irish economy, including the safeguarding of public resources. The general rule is that the grant of a visa is subject to the worker being able to support the family without recourse to public funds.

When assessing applications of this type, the visa officer will consider, amongst other factors, whether the level of salary of the worker would come within the ambit of qualifying for payment from public funds. In this regard, the criteria set by the Department of Social and Family Affairs for eligibility for family income supplement payment, FIS, is used — the criteria, which may change from time to time, are available onthat Department's website www.welfare.ie/publications/sw22.html. If the level of the worker's income as evidenced by his or her payslips or P60 would qualify for FIS payments, the application for a visa is generally refused as it is evident that the family can seek recourse to public funds. The visa officer will expect to see sufficient evidence of the financial status of the applicant, in the form of several payslips, and detailed bank statements covering, at a minimum, a two to three month period. The documentation supplied should demonstrate a consistent financial history and evidence of regular income.

In the case of the person referred to by the Deputy, the application was refused for reasons of finances — specifically that insufficient evidence of finances was supplied. In this case the evidence supplied was not sufficient to enable the visa and appeals officers conclude that the individual in question had adequate funds available to enable them live in the State without recourse to public funds. The initial application was accompanied by a single bank statement covering a three month period. No payslips were supplied in support of the application. As part of the subsequent appeal against this refusal decision, the applicant supplied an additional bank statement covering another three month period, however, again, no payslips were supplied.

On the basis of the information supplied, the application was refused as it was deemed that the applicant was unable to support his spouse without recourse to public funds.

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