Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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557. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason waiting times for visit a family/friend visas, short-term visits to Ireland, are taking over a year to process when in appeal (details supplied); the reason, given these are short-term stays, the decisions are taking so long; if she will act to reduce these waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29846/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate the impact of delays on applicants and my Department has taken a number of measures to address the backlog including the assignment of additional staff resources and the use of overtime working. The resources available for these activities, and the accompanying operational and organisational structures are kept under ongoing review to ensure that resources are deployed as efficiently as possible.

The processing times for short term visas by the Dublin Visa Office for tourism or to visit family or friends is approximately 5 to 6 weeks.

While every effort is made to process appeals as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of appeals, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of my Department to seek further information, and the resources available.

The visa system is an essential part of our immigration system and is a preclearance mechanism to determine who can travel to Ireland. All applications are subject to scrutiny and must be supported by documentation to be approved. If a person wishes to visit Ireland for a short period they will need to demonstrate they have obligations to leave and that they will abide by the conditions of the visa.

All applicants for a short stay ‘C’ visa (whether for a single entry or multiple entries) must show that they have sufficiently strong family, social or economic ties to a place of residence in a country other than Ireland to assure the visa officer assessing the application that the proposed stay in Ireland will be temporary and in accordance with the duration and conditions of the permission granted by the immigration authorities on arrival in Ireland. The maximum stay allowed under a short stay ‘C’ visa is 90 days.

The responsibility for demonstrating substantial ties to a country other than Ireland rests with the applicant. The burden of proof in all cases is on the applicant to satisfy the visa officer. The visa officer may verify any evidence submitted in support of an application. Guidelines in this regard are posted on our website. Applicants that follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance. Documents normally required in support of an application are set out on the following webpage:

www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-visit-ireland/how-to-apply-for-a-short-stay-c-visit-tourist-visa/.

It should also be noted that visa appeals are dealt with in strict chronological order.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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558. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a decision will be made on visit a family/friend visa appeal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29847/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were refused by the Visa Office in Dublin. The reasons for these decisions were set out in the refusal letters sent to the applicants on 5 March 2024. Appeals of these decisions were received on 2 May 2024.

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.

All applicants for a short stay ‘C’ visa (whether for a single entry or multiple entries) must show that they have sufficiently strong family, social or economic ties to a place of residence in a country other than Ireland to assure the visa officer assessing the application that the projected stay in Ireland will be temporary and in accordance with the duration and conditions of the permission granted by the immigration authorities on arrival in Ireland. The maximum stay allowed under a short stay ‘C’ visa is 90 days.

The responsibility for demonstrating substantial ties to a country other than Ireland rests with the applicant. The burden of proof in all cases is on the applicant to satisfy the visa officer. The visa officer may verify any evidence submitted in support of an application.

There is no right to a visa nor is there one set of documents or circumstances of application that will guarantee the approval of an application. However, the documents normally required in support of an application are set out in the ‘Guide to Supporting Documentation’ for each type of short stay ‘C’ visa.

It should be noted that visa appeals are dealt with in strict chronological order.

Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following link which is updated each Tuesday:

www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/.

Processing times can change during the year, for example before holiday periods or for study applications prior to a new college year.

A decision will be issued to the applicants as soon as full consideration has been given by a Visa Appeals 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 at: IMoireachtasmail@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.