Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has held discussions with the US Government regarding the position of Irish citizens who may have extended their 90 day visitor visa in the United States as a result of the volcanic ash crisis; if so, if the US authorities will facilitate these people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16810/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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After the Icelandic volcano eruption and the resulting disruption of air travel had given rise to concerns that Irish citizens, through no fault of their own, might enter into overstay status the Embassy in Washington was in communication with the US Department of Homeland Security. The Embassy was advised that remedies were available for those citizens who were about to exceed the authorized stay under either the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) or a visa.

As regards citizens travelling under the Visa Waiver Program, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) were authorised to grant Satisfactory Departure for a traveller stranded at an airport whose VWP admission was about to expire. If the stranded traveller was not at an airport but elsewhere in the country, the traveller would be able to apply for Satisfactory Departure from the local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office and, if this was granted, the VWP traveller would be allowed to stay in the United States legally for an additional 30 days.

In relation to citizens travelling under a visa, the Embassy was advised that citizens should contact the nearest USCIS office. The Embassy was also advised that the Department of Homeland Security and the Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had provided their staff with guidance on how to handle such cases.

My Department placed a notice on its website advising citizens concerned that they might overstay in the US as a result of flight disruption to contact either the Department or the US Department of Homeland Security. My Department's Consular Crisis Centre received a number of calls on this matter and was able to advise citizens on their position.