Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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139. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the arrangements in place for a person who is on a visitor's visa from South Africa living with a family member here and has developed a long-term illness and wishes to remain here with this family member; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22669/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have been advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that it is not the general policy of INIS to extend visitor permission in the State. This applies to both visa required and non-visa required nationals. It is only in cases where a person's circumstances have changed since the grant of the visa or entry to the State that an application for an extension of visitor's permission will be considered. An example of this would be an unexpected illness of either the visitor or the family member they are visiting. If there has been an unexpected change in the circumstances of the visitor, that could not have been foreseen before entering the State, then an application for an extension of visitor’s permission can be made.

If there is a compelling need in unexpected circumstances for the visitor to extend their visitor permission beyond the 90 days they should make an application in writing to:

Residence Division

Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS)

PO Box 12695

Dublin 2

The application must include the following information:

1. A full copy of the person’s current passport showing how they entered the State and the entry stamp

2. A detailed account of the reason for the request including documentary supporting evidence e.g. medical reports

3. How much extra time is required?

4. Any family members resident in the State and their current circumstances ie. studying or working

5. Any other information considered important to the application

6. Evidence of private medical insurance (if request is on medical grounds)

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by email 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 email service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.