Non EU Join Family Visa (Irish Spouse)

[Nehshaen]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to figure out realistic information/advice for Join Family visa applications processed through the Abu Dhabi office (I hold Egyptian passport and submitted my documents with my Husband in Egypt Embassy). I submitted my application on August 26th, 2025 and I know it's early and everyone is saying up to 2 years.

My main frustrations:

North Africa countries and middleeast are all processed in Abu Dhabi which states "up to 12 months" processing time but gives ZERO transparency about which dates they're currently processing.

Questions for anyone with Abu Dhabi experience as the feedback on Google about them is brutely bad on how they are slow and rude.

All I can see, is my application have in Irish Immigration Portal is Document Accepted but yet there is InProgress Status and then Decision Status so far I have not been in InProgress since August when they accepted my paper without asking for any additional needed documents.

We believe the application is strong but could be wrong (high income, permanent job, homeowner) but apparently that doesn't matter, everyone waits the same timeline regardless of application strength.
The relationship we even submitted printed photos of trips together and we hope it is enough for them since proof of relationship seem to be hard.

My questions are since ZERO transparency:

Are they really processing chronologically or completely random?
Has anyone successfully gotten transparency from them about current processing dates?
How come does this processing end up bad by every year as people say? What have changed?

Thanks

[Ibeeby]

I don’t have any experience of this particular stream but what I would say is that an internet search on delay times is likely to lead to a pessimistic result. For example, naturalisation is said (if you google it) to take an average of 19 months but this figure pre-dates the new on-line process which is bedding in and getting down to below 12 months already. So don’t be pessimistic - just follow the process as directed would be my suggestion.

If you look on this forum you’ll find people’s timelines (which I believe are genuinely helpful) but be sure to look at the dates also because I believe that resources have been stepped up recently to match demand so times are beginning to come down in many cases so more recent posts are more likely to reflect current reality.

[Nehshaen]

Thank you! I hope it's getting better... It is just frustration as they hold onto my passport for too long so I cannot really travel elsewhere and indeed will not ask them to return it as this will cause or stop the application process.

It's fine to wait x number of months and indeed I know there is queue and process but at least transparency on where people at rather than nothing.

[learner__]

1. You can request the return of your passport while your application is processed. Email the embassy and explain that you need to travel. Ask them to confirm that they will return it without affecting your application. My wife asked for her passport to be returned in her application letter, and she got it back a week later. Her application was granted.

2. The only way to find out real timelines at the moment is through freedom of information. I've had success with this - though the news it gave me was only bad. Email foi@justice.ie with something like the below and you'll have a better idea.

If you do submit an FOI, it'll take 4-5 weeks for the response to come through. I submitted a similar request to the above (only about the Dublin visa office) and it was granted in full.

Dear FOI Officer,

I wish to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2014.

I am seeking statistical data relating to Join Family visa applications only where the sponsor is an Irish citizen, and the visa application is sent to the Abu Dhabi Visa Office for processing. Specifically, I request:

For applications sent to the Abu Dhabi Visa Office for processing, the number of Join Family visa applications (sponsor = Irish citizen) which received a first instance decision within 12 months of application.

For the same cohort, the number of such applications which did not receive a first instance decision within 12 months.

For the same cohort, the average processing time to first instance decision, as recorded by the Department. If average processing times are not held, I request any existing statistical records showing processing times to first instance decision for this cohort.

Please provide this data, where possible:

for each consecutive three-month period covering the past 18 months

for the most recent complete three-month period available

I would prefer to receive the information in electronic format (Excel, CSV, or PDF table).

If any aspect of this request requires clarification, I would be grateful if you could contact me to discuss rather than refuse the request under section 12(1)(b).

[Nehshaen]

I didn't know about FOI - interesting though. I will use this but I guess I will have to wait since the processing time up to 12months.

For passport to be returned, I guess I still will have to hand it back to them to stamp visa on right?

FOI sound a good way to know more information I will wait until Feb 2026 to have at least 6 months pass then will send an email.

Thank you so much for this information

I've emailed the Immigration Portal and got response that the processing office is in UAE and shall contact them for information and sadly as people shared their stories and feedback on Google, they are very bad and barely communicate anyway.

[learner__]

No problem, happy to help. We've just been through the process. My wife's visa took 12 months.

My other advice would be that they're primarily looking at two things: 1) is the relationship genuine, 2) is the Irish spouse financially stable/able to support.

We submitted additional documents directly to the visa office a few months after the initial application for more evidence in these areas.

For relationship proof, we submitted letters from friends and family attesting to the genuine nature of the relationship, and a very detailed outline of our relationship history.

For finances, I got a letter from my employer stating the full details of my employment, and a letter from the Dept of Social Protection stating that I'd never drawn any social welfare payments (you can get this online).

[Nehshaen]

Thank you and great point! we also decided to not bother until it's at least 8 months so as you mentioned and probably everyone 12 months is the minimum waiting time.

Relationship is genuine indeed, we provided wedding photos, honeymoon photos, and letter with brief on our relationship start from few years ago until marriage - I know letter is just words for them and they want proofs, I don't know if photos are enough but I guess printed photos pretty much enough as well as 2 stamps a year on Irish Passport visiting the country in past years so if this is not enough I would doubt the skills in their officers. In terms of finance yes it's stable and for years no issues at all.

I was never asked to provide a proof for social welfare however I have printed for them full details of emloyments for past years so no gaps so it's easy to see.

One question though, if they need anything extra, shouldn't they just email us easier and we send it online or to the Dubai office rather than whole route to embassy?

[learner__]

Yes, they should contact you if they need anything, but it's much easier to provide everything they might ask for in advance to make their decision easier.

I know of someone who got asked for additional documents at 20 months post application. It's only my guess - but I'd imagine the fact that it was incomplete led to the delay e.g. multiple people reviewing before they got asked for the extra documents.