Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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289. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a person (details supplied) might be granted a temporary visa to assist with their mother’s obsequies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33392/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy does not state the nationality of the person referred to. However, it is noted that the address provided is in South Africa and South African nationals are not visa required and may seek to enter and reside in the State on visitors conditions for up to 90 days.

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 individuals to have all documentation relating to their reasons for entering Ireland for presentation to the Immigration Officer to gain entry. The Immigration Officer may grant leave to enter to a maximum period of three months. They may, depending on the documentation, the reasons for seeking entry to the State and/or a person’s previous Immigration history, refuse entry to the State or grant permission for a period of less than 3 months.

If they are unsure as to whether they require a visa/preclearance to enter Ireland they can check their nationality on the list at the following link:

In order to be fair to all of our applicants, we do not expedite visa applications or appeals. Applications are generally processed in the order in which they are received. Expediting an application is usually confined to time-sensitive instances e.g. where a family member has been hospitalised, in a life-threatening situation or in the unfortunate event of a bereavement.

Any person that wishes to make a visa application must do so online at:

.

When making an emergency application the applicant should select “Other” when they are completing the “What is the reason for travel?” section.

They should briefly explain their circumstances when they are completing the “Purpose of Travel” section. Once they are satisfied with their application they should click “submit” and print a copy of the “Summary Form”.

They must then lodge the summary form together with the relevant fee and supporting documentation with the Irish Embassy as soon as possible. The supporting documentation should be as up to date as possible. Only upon receipt of the necessary documentation & fee, can the visa application be processed further. They should also engage with the embassy explaining the nature of the emergency and provide whatever documentary evidence may be available.

If the applicant believes that their situation meets the criteria listed above, they should mail with the subject “EMERGENCY TRAVEL REQUIRED”along with their visa application number. A member of our Customer Service Team will respond to them as soon as possible.

The Customer Service Team will usually seek supporting documentary evidence to verify the situation e.g. a letter from a hospital/doctor or other relevant authority. My Department will work with families, or their representatives, to facilitate the application if possible.Emergency applications will be dealt with on a case by case basis but will, wherever possible, be processed speedily and sympathetically.

For your convenience I have included a link to the contact detail of the embassy below:

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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290. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a visa appeal might be granted in the name of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33393/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa application referred to was refused. A letter issued to the applicant on 04 July 2023 outlines the reasons for this refusal.

An appeals process, which is free of charge, is available which allows applicants, in the event of a refusal of the application at first instance, to address the factors which gave rise to that decision.

It is open to the applicant to appeal this decision, in writing, within two months of the date of the refusal. Appeals must be in written form and sent to the Visa Appeals Officer in the relevant Visa Office. Faxed or emailed appeals will not be considered.

All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on our website. Applicants that meticulously follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance.

When making an appeal, the applicant should take into account the reasons for refusal listed in the refusal letter. The appeal should include any further information or additional documentation they wish to have considered, and should be sent for the attention of the Visa Appeals Officer, in the relevant Visa Office, where the matter will be considered afresh. You will find further details on the appeals process at the following link:

www.irishimmigration.ie/appeal-a-negative-decision/.

Full consideration will be given to any appeal received on behalf of the applicant, however the onus is on the applicant to satisfy the Visa Officer that a visa should be granted.

The applicant is advised not to pay for a travel ticket before they receive a decision on their visa. There is no guarantee that any individual application will be successful.

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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

291. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a visa appeal might be granted in the name of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33394/23]

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

I can inform the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa application referred to was refused. A letter issued to the applicant on 04 July 2023 outlines the reasons for this refusal.

An appeals process, which is free of charge, is available which allows applicants, in the event of a refusal of the application at first instance, to address the factors which gave rise to that decision.

It is open to the applicant to appeal this decision, in writing, within two months of the date of the refusal. Appeals must be in written form and sent to the Visa Appeals Officer in the relevant Visa Office. Faxed or emailed appeals will not be considered.

All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on our website. Applicants that meticulously follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance.

When making an appeal, the applicant should take into account the reasons for refusal listed in the refusal letter. The appeal should include any further information or additional documentation they wish to have considered, and should be sent for the attention of the Visa Appeals Officer, in the relevant Visa Office, where the matter will be considered afresh. You will find further details on the appeals process at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/appeal-a-negative-decision/.

Full consideration will be given to any appeal received on behalf of the applicant, however the onus is on the applicant to satisfy the Visa Officer that a visa should be granted.

The applicant is advised not to pay for a travel ticket before they receive a decision on their visa. There is no guarantee that any individual application will be successful.

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.