Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason applications for family reunification (details supplied) were refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17956/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The applications were received in my Department on 13 April 2005. There is no scheme currently in operation for family reunification of Vietnamese programme refugees. I have contacted the Reception and Integration Agency and I have been advised that the sponsor of the group was advised of the conditions and procedures involved in family reunification by letter dated 31 March 1999. The conditions clearly stipulated that relatives should understand that they will have no right to seek the admission of further relatives by way of family reunification after 31 March 2000.

My Department treated the applications as visit visa applications. Visit visas by their nature require supporting documentation which will satisfy the visa officer that they have ties of an economic, social or professional nature to ensure that they will return following the visit. As the visa applications sought were long term in nature they were refused by the visa officer.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a person (details supplied) was refused a holiday visa to visit here. [17964/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The visa application in question was received in my Department on 21 January 2005. The visa application was for the stated purposes of enabling a non-EEA national travel to the State for a four month visit to his brother-in-law in the State. The visa officer who assessed the application sought further information following an initial evaluation of the application by letter dated 3 March 2005.

Following receipt of further information, the visa was refused as the applicant failed to show that he had obligations to return home following the visit. The visa officer could not be satisfied that the applicant would observe the conditions of the visa and the documentation provided regarding finances was insufficient. The decision was sent to the applicant on 8 April 2005.

It is open to the applicant to appeal the refusal in writing to the Visa Appeals Officer, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, within two months of the notice of issue of the refusal notification.