Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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127. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of applications for visas for family reunification for persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43205/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that on-line visa applications were made on 28October, 2015. The necessary application summaries and supporting documentation have not yet been received by any of the Irish Visa Offices.

Guidelines on the visa application process including details of the required supporting documentation can be found on the INIS website (www.inis.gov.ie).

If the applicants are resident in Syria, they will need to submit their applications to the Honorary Consul in Damascus. The documents will then be referred to the Irish Visa Office in Abu Dhabi for decision. If they are unable to submit the documents to Damascus, they may submit them to one of the other Irish Embassies or Consulates in the region or directly to the Irish Visa Office in Abu Dhabi. Further information can be found on the website of the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi (www.embassyofireland.ae).

Queries in relation to general immigration matters may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to INIS (visamail@justice.ie).