Preclearance waiting times / arrival from NI

[treehunter]

Hi, I'm currently waiting for a decision on my preclearance application (de facto partner of Irish national) from the London visa office. Does anyone have experience with how long this typically takes? They usually post a weekly decision report on Mondays covering the previous week, but here we are, Wednesday afternoon, and there's no report (the last posted report covers decisions up to 17 June).

Also, the INIS website says that after receiving preclearance, you are meant to present your approval letter to an immigration official at the border before making an appointment and registering at Burgh Quay (if in Dublin). However, I'm applying from inside the UK and live in Belfast, so I will be arriving into the Republic of Ireland via the "border" with Northern Ireland. Does anyone know if I have to make two separate appointments (one to show I've entered the country and one to register) at the office in Dublin, or just one to register? I've heard it can take a long time to get an appointment at Burgh Quay.

Thanks for any insights you can share!

[susanworth12]

Hello,

I can't be of any help on this matter - but I will also be entering Dublin on a long term visa via Belfast. I was just wondering what you ended up doing? Were you able to get an entry stamp by walking into the Burgh Quay office?

Thanks so much.