Join Family Spouse Visa for Non EU Researcher Delay Ireland

Hi Guys,

I am a Non EU Researcher (currently holding Stamp 4, but before that I had Stamp 1) in Ireland and have applied for my spouse's/husband's visa in the beginning of January. Now, its more than 6 months since the application was received in Dublin office and no decision reached yet. What do you guys suggest to do in this situation?


Many thanks for your time.

Join family visas take a lot of time to process, see this table, for example, showing which applications by what date are being considered - https://www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions .
They're a long way away from January.

Thank you @meself2. I have now seen the dates. But, for a researcher's spouse category the website seems to say that we can expect decision in 6 months. And now its more than 6 months. Can I contact anyone e.g. lawyer, to help with this issue?

rashmikiara15 wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 22, 2023 10:02 am

But, for a researcher's spouse category the website seems to say that we can expect decision in 6 months.

Would you mind pointing where it says so/quoting the full excerpt?
Going to https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming- ... esearcher/, you're instructed to go to a page about Join Family visa - https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming- ... ly-member/ stating "You can expect that your application will be dealt with within 12 months of receipt of all required documentation.", so technically they're within the limits.

If there's a statement on ISD website about 6 months, you can surely use it to try and put pressure on them, but see above about path I went through and results sourced.

Thanks again for the prompt response. Here is the excerpt taken from the pdf (See Beginning of Page 59 on this pdf) link below :

"Applications (assuming all required information has been submitted) for family reunification for immediate family members in Category A of Section 16 of this document and for Irish Citizens should be dealt with within 6 months of application. "

Link to pdf: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-cont ... cation.pdf

List of Category A also given on Page 45
Category A (Eligible to sponsor applications for immediate family
reunification -including being accompanied by family
members on arrival16)
Critical Skills Employment Permit Holders
Investors
Entrepreneurs
Business Permission Holders
Researchers
INIS Approved Scholarship programme students (e.g.
KASP)
Intra Corporate Transferees
PhD Students (subject to conditions including no
recourse to social welfare payments)
Full time non-locum doctors in employment

Thanks for the link!

Unfortunately, as I expected, it says "should", not "must" hence they don't have an obligation to get it done and dusted. They do it with the speed they're capable of (hopefully).

Also to be frank, that document is from 2016 (!) and, if I remember correctly, still mentions the fee of 150 euro for a residence permit. While it has good points of reference, I wouldn't expect someone to come in to ISD while renewing the permission, waving this guidance and saying "it says 150 euro here, I'm not paying 300", so same applies for estimated processing times.

It's better to check more up to date sources, which are given on ISD website via 12 month statement and processing times. Yes, it's a long while, but that's how ISD works for now.
Why don't they update it - no idea.

You can try to get a solicitor's help to expedite application, but I'm afraid that due to reasons outlined above it won't be very useful.