Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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106. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the correct procedure to be followed to facilitate a spousal join in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40538/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that it is open to any visa required national to apply for a visa for any purpose. Each visa application is considered on its individual merits, with the Visa Officer having regard to all of the information and documentation available. The onus rests at all times with the applicant to satisfy the Visa Officer that the visa sought should be granted.

As regards the application procedure, guidelines on how to apply for particular types of visas are available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie In addition, detailed information on the circumstances in which a person can seek to sponsor a family member to join them in the State are set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification which is also available on the website.

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 visamail@justice.ie.