The Minister for Justice has announced a further automatic extension of immigration permissions to the 20th of September 2021.
The extension is applicable to all immigration permissions expiring between the 21st of April 2021 and the 20th of September 2021.
It includes individuals with permissions extended under the previous extension notices and permissions registered by the Immigration Service and An Garda Síochana. This is a welcomed relief for many individuals whose immigration permission was due to expire on the 21st of April 2021.
In her announcement, the Minister states as follows:
“As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, I want to reassure people whose immigration permissions are due to expire shortly that your legal status in the country will continue to be maintained. To do this, I am introducing a further automatic extension to 20 September 2021 for anyone already holding a valid permission.
“This extension will benefit those who cannot get an appointment to register or renew an existing permission. However, I encourage anyone who can renew, particularly Dublin-based customers who can use the online system, to do so and not to wait until September.
“It is intended this will be the final temporary extension of immigration permission, however we will continue to keep the situation under review as part of our national response to the pandemic.”
The full notice is available to read here.
No indication has been given as to when the offices of the Garda National Immigration Bureau at Burgh Quay will reopen for first time registrations. We submit that arrangements should be put in place to re-open the GNIB offices in a safe and controlled manner, to enable non-EEA nationals who have entered the State and need to register with the immigration authorities for the first time to do so. We are aware of many clients who have entered the State on valid visas and immigration permissions, who have been unable to register, which consequentially prevents them from applying for a PPS number, taking up employment, registering on courses etc.
Regional immigration offices around the country are open for first time registrations. The Cork registration office located directly across the road from Sinnott Solicitors Cork office has been busy for the past number of months registering first time applicants who are resident in Cork, yet persons who are in exactly the same position who are resident in Dublin, are prevented from registering and obtaining their Irish Residence Permit, simply because they reside in Dublin. We hope that arrangements can be put in place to safely reopen the GNIB office at Burgh Quay to facilitate first time registrations shortly.
With offices in Dublin and Cork, Sinnott Solicitors have a specialist team of Immigration Solicitors and Immigration Consultants who are experts on all Irish immigration matters. Should you have any queries with respect to any of the information contained in this article or any other immigration matters, do not hesitate to contact our immigration department in Cork or Dublin today on 014062862 or info@sinnott.ie.
