USA to Ireland - Visa Blues

fwkelly

Hi,
My fiancée and I are in a bit of a dilemma at the moment. I'm Irish and she's American. She's over here at the moment on a 90 day holiday visa, but she wants to stay Legally and work here.
We've scoured the government website but there doesn't seem to be any clear way to stay, even getting married tomorrow doesn't seem to guarantee a visa. The best way we can find is if she gets sponsored by an employer, but that's a stretch, as soon as they hear she doesn't have a visa they don't want to know.
Is there anyone out there who has gone through the same thing, an American citizen who moved to Ireland and got to stay and work?
We need all the advice we can get. So if can help we would be most appreciative.
Thank you
FWK

MIN2511

fwkelly wrote: »

Hi,
My fiancée and I are in a bit of a dilemma at the moment. I'm Irish and she's American. She's over here at the moment on a 90 day holiday visa, but she wants to stay Legally and work here.
We've scoured the government website but there doesn't seem to be any clear way to stay, even getting married tomorrow doesn't seem to guarantee a visa. The best way we can find is if she gets sponsored by an employer, but that's a stretch, as soon as they hear she doesn't have a visa they don't want to know.
Is there anyone out there who has gone through the same thing, an American citizen who moved to Ireland and got to stay and work?
We need all the advice we can get. So if can help we would be most appreciative.
Thank you
FWK

Not a personal issue, you should try www.immigrant.ie there are people in the similar situations.
What skills does she have, if she is a skilled employee she may qualify for the Work Permit.
And have you checked citizens.ie, entemp.ie
I have found them helpful

Overheal

PI's Resident Americano to the rescue:

www.immigrantcouncil.ie

You should find what you need there. I'm on a student visa that gives me blanket-permission to work 20 hours a week during term and 40 during term-breaks. I don't reliably know specifics about a work visa.

Edit: immigrant council has the published factual information on hand. immigrant.ie I cant comment on but I'm about to go for a dive on that one..

fwkelly

Her degree is in journalism and she's work as the film researcher and coordinator at a major film festival in the states for the last four year. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

cornbb

The girlfriend and I have been in pretty much the exact same scenario and there's no easy way out unfortunately. However I was under the impression that marriage would allow your fiancé to stay here, even though it might be some time before she is legally allowed to work here. I believe it is v. difficult to obtain a work permit through obtaining sponsorship but her chances of that might increase significantly if she is a specialist in her field and her skills are in high demand. Best of luck with it.

Buzz Buzz

Very similar situation here, both considering moving to Canada where we're both legally allowed to work.. hopefully we'll confirm after some period there that what we have is for life, roll with the whole marraige thing after that!

Ruu_Old

It probably has changed since 2004 but my wife moved from the US to Ireland (we were married early in 2004). We went to Garda station and had a chat with the immigration officer there. He sorted it out for us and she got a alien registration card (has to be renewed once a year), then we went into Social Welfare and got her PPS number. Thats all there was to it.
Perhaps contact your local Garda station, I know some are more helpful than others. Best of luck and hope it works out for you.

WhiteWashMan

Is the aliens department still on Harcourt street?

MIN2511

WhiteWashMan wrote: »

Is the aliens department still on Harcourt street?

No... It's now on Burgh Quay.. ever notice the long queue of foreigners... yeah thats the place

WindSock

If you have been together for 4 years you can try and use the DeFacto relationship route. We are in a similar situation, but have been together only 3 years :mad:

Lux23

Why don't you just marry her asap? Just go down the registry office route and if you both want a proper wedding you can do it again. Im not sure if that makes it automatic but surely it would improve your chances.

fwkelly

Thanks Ruu, I never thought of that.

Victor

Lux23 wrote: »

Why don't you just marry her asap? Just go down the registry office route and if you both want a proper wedding you can do it again. Im not sure if that makes it automatic but surely it would improve your chances.

It takes 3 months to get married and in this country, while marriage is temporary, divorce is also (the other side can come back for more).