Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

134. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application for a spousal visa in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34426/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the visa application referred to was received by the Irish Visa Office in New Delhi on the 26th of February, 2016.

In accordance with the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification, published by this Department in December 2013, the Visa Office has a business target of 6 months for applications of this type. It should be noted that this is purely a business target and is in no way a legal obligation on the Visa Office. In the case of the application referred to by the Deputy, whilst a preliminary assessment of the application has been completed, the application referred to requires a more comprehensive examination. This has led to some delays in processing. The Visa Office in New Delhi can commit to issuing a decision within the next 4 weeks.

The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases 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 the 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). For queries relating to the New Delhi visa office, the applicant can also email that office directly (newdelhivisaoffice@dfa.ie).