Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

417. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the guidelines or statutory instrument that cover the requests for information from applicants for visitor visas by the Irish National Immigration Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15108/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Persons who are not citizens of Ireland and who are not nationals of one of the countries specified in the appropriate schedules of the Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) Order 2012 (S.I. no. 412 of 2012) are required to have a valid Irish visa to land in the State.

In order to issue a visit visa, the deciding Visa Officer must be satisfied that a number of criteria are fulfilled, including that the person concerned has the financial means for the cost of the visit, that they have demonstrated obligations to return to their home country and that they intend to observe the conditions of their visa. Such criteria are a common feature of the vast majority of visa systems worldwide and are necessary to ensure the integrity of the immigration system, the maintenance of public security, public order or public health, the orderly regulation of the labour market or for the purposes of reciprocal immigration arrangements.

Certain standard supporting documents are required for all visa applications. These are advised to the applicant on completion of the online application form. However, on occasion, a Visa Officer may require additional documentation in order to make a determination about whether the visa should be granted. A visa applicant signs a declaration, when completing their visa application, that they understand additional information and/or data may be required and that failure to provide this, if requested, may result in the refusal of the application.

General information in relation to the requirements in relation to visa applications for various purposes is available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) at www.inis.gov.ie.

The following revised reply was received on 4 April 2014: