Working > 20 hours a week on a Non-EU Student Visa

Boardom

Hi,

I have a friend who has recently arrived in Ireland from Asia.

He has paid and registered for a year long English course which means he is allowed to work up to 20 hours a week legally during term time and up to 40 hours a week during vacations.

He has just started work in a job and they want him to work 35 hours a week all the time. They don't seem to care about his visa restrictions.

They are paying him for all the hours through his PPS number so it is not cash in hand. I am wondering if he is likely to get caught and what would the consequences be if he continually works 35 hour weeks there even during non school vacation time.

Any thoughts?

Hitchhiker's Guide to...

It just has to be an average of 20 hours per week over an entire year (i think). So maybe they are using that as a way around the issue.

Don't think he has anything to worry about. But maybe to be safe he could ring the immigration office?

Also, he could ask his question here: http://www.irelandbbs.com/ which is a Dublin-based chinese discussion board and very active. Presume he would get an answer very quickly there.

jameshayes

get him to call DETE on 1890 220 222 (i think they only answer phones monday wednesday & friday till 13:30)