Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The person referred to by the Deputy created on-line Employment visa application on 5 July 2022. The supporting documentation and relevant fees were subsequently received on 13 July 2022 in the New Delhi visa office.

The processing times for visa decisions are published on the visa pages of each Visa Office and the relevant Embassy website. Having contacted the Visa office, they have advised this application is currently under consideration with a visa officer and a decision will issue shortly.

The processing time in each location is determined by a number of factors such as the volumes and complexity of applications, individual circumstances, peak application periods, seasonal factors, and the resources available. While every effort is made to process applications as quickly as possible, processing times inevitably vary as a result.

The granting of an employment permit by DETE is not the sole determining factor as to whether a visa will subsequently be granted by my Department. These are two very distinct application processes with different checks and procedures in place in each respective Department.

The central concern in deciding on visa applications, as with all visa services worldwide, is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime while at the same time facilitating travel for those who meet the criteria. Each visa application is therefore decided on its own merits taking all factors into account.

Applicants are advised not to pay for airline or other travel tickets without having first been issued with a visa. The persons referred to by the Deputy will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), 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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.