Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1279. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of instances in which an official and-or visa officer requested additional information in respect of an applicant’s standard of English before their arrival here in the past ten years to date. [20187/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available for the entire period in question. Its preparation would require the expenditure of a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff resources and time, which could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources.

More generally, all applicants must show that they have the capacity to do their chosen course through the medium of English. If an applicant is applying for an English language course, they must have a basic level of English before coming to Ireland. English language course applicants are not required to provide evidence from a test provider when submitting their application.  However, they may be asked by the Visa Officer to provide alternative evidence of a basic level of English before coming to Ireland.

Applicants intending to attend second level, foundation level or a preparatory English course (required prior to some third level courses) must provide evidence of International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Level 4.0 or English Test for Academic and Professional Purposes (ETAPP) Level B1 or equivalent.

Applicants intending to attend all other courses (not second level and not preparatory English) must provide evidence of IELTS Academic Level 5.0 or ETAPP level B2 or equivalent.

It should be noted that these are the requirements for a visa application and some course providers may require a higher standard for certain courses.

The certificate of an applicant’s English language standard must have been issued within two years of the expected start date of a course. As an exceptional measure, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, my Department will accept certificates within three years of the expected start date of the course for the 2021/2022 academic year.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1280. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of visas that have been revoked on an annual basis since the visa scheme was launched for persons wishing to learn English here. [20188/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Any visa required national, including students, that wish to enter the State, and remain, for up to 90 days must have a Type C Short Stay Visa. For periods greater than 90 days they must have a Type D Long Stay Visa. For those staying longer than 90 days they are also required to register their permission to be in the State.

Statistics are not held in the manner requested by the Deputy. The table below details the study visas revoked to visa-required nationals, for all types of courses including secondary level, English language and third level courses up to and including PhD (Level 10).

A visa may be revoked for a number of reasons, including clerical or administration reasons.

Not all non-EEA national students who request entry to the State are visa required. A full list of visa required and non-visa required countries can be found on my Department's website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Immigration-Service-Delivery-Visa-and-Non-Visa-Required-Countries.pdf.

A visa does not give the holder a right to enter the State. It permits the holder to present at a port of entry. Entry into the State, for both visa required and non-visa required nationals, is solely at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the port of entry.

The onus is on the individual to have all documentation relating to their reasons for entering Ireland ready for presentation to the Immigration Officer to gain entry. The Immigration Officer may grant leave to enter up to a maximum period of three months. They may, depending on the documentation presented, refuse entry to the State or grant a lesser period than three months.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1281. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if it is a requirement to have proof of secure accommodation in place in order for an application to made and or be granted in respect of a person seeking a visa to study English here in advance of arrival to the State. [20189/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A person seeking a visa to study English in the State is not required to have proof of secure accommodation in place in order to make an application. 

The conditions that prospective English language students must meet in order to be granted permission to remain in Ireland as a student are set out on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/what-are-my-study-options/planning-to-study-in-ireland/.

Students enrolling on an English language programme listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) can register for a Stamp 2 immigration permission for up to eight months. However, the eligible programme must last 25 weeks in duration and the student must attend classes for a minimum of 15 hours per week with an 85% attendance required to have the permission renewed if they wish to undertake further studies in the State.  

A student may extend their permission for another eight months if they enrol on another 25 week English language programme. Immigration officials will seek evidence of their exam results and attendance before granting a further permission.