Student in Ireland and getting married

[StatusQuo]

Hello All,

A thousand and one apologies if this has already been raised! I searched the forum but could not find an answer to my particular query. Below are the facts:

I am non-EEA national from a visa required country living in Ireland

I have lived with my other half in Ireland for more than a year and are looking to get married this month (March). We have been dating for 3 years now though.

I am on the graduate student visa and currently in employment, my wife to be is also working.

My question is will i be able to move from stamp 2 to 4 seamlessly? and how long will it take since i am already in Ireland. My graduate visa expires in April.

Any advice will be much appreciated.

[CalvinKlien]

What is ur girl friend nationality ?

[StatusQuo]

What is ur girl friend nationality ?

Oh sorry... She's Irish

[CalvinKlien]

There are two routes in which a non EEA national can apply for permission to reside in the State on the basis of marriage or civil partnership with an Irish national.

A). If you are a non visa required national who has entered the State legally within the last 90 days or if you are a visa required national and you are within the period of permission to remain granted to you on arrival in the State (except short stay ‘c’ visas):, or if you have current permission to remain in the State on an alternative basis both you and your Irish national spouse/civil partner should attend at your local Garda National Immigration Bureau Registration office with the following documentation:
Your original marriage/civil partnership certificate
Your original passport
Your Irish spouse’s/civil partner’s original passport
Evidence of your joint address

B). If you do not have current permission to remain in the State a written application must be made to the following address:

Spouse of Irish National Unit, Immigration Services Section,
3rd Floor,
Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service,
13-14 Burgh Quay,
Dublin 2.

[CalvinKlien]

You will come in the "A" category as explained above and for further information, go on to this link: http://inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/WP07000024

[StatusQuo]

You will come in the "A" category as explained above and for further information, go on to this link: http://inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/WP07000024

Thank you! i appreciate your prompt response.

According to the website it takes up to 12 months to process.

3). How long will it take to process the application?
Applications can take up to 12 months to process. Applications are dealt with in chronological order of receipt.

I was originally under the impression that it would be done there and then, that is, switched from stamp 2 to 4 on that day. Is that the case? or does this apply to spouses coming into the country for the first time?

[CalvinKlien]

Don't confuse yourself, you are in "A" category, you will go to the INIS or your local immigration officer with the following documents and your stamp would be changed from 2 to 4.

1-Your original marriage/civil partnership certificate
2-Your original passport
3-Your Irish spouse’s/civil partner’s original passport
4-Evidence of your joint address

The 12 months waiting applies when you are illegal in the country do not have current permission to remain in the State. Your case is straight forward and you will get stamp 4 on the same day.

Good Luck

[StatusQuo]

That's fantastic news, thank you for your time!