Visa rules for US citizens to Ireland

Webmonkey

Hey there,

I've a friend from the US that is staying over here for a few months. (Up to less than 3 months, the valid amount of time). However, they want to come over again for a while after wards.

I know emigration are going to give them hassle when re entering the 2nd time but what is the law. I can't find any clear information on this.

From what I've seen (can't remember where :-/), it's okay once you return to your originating country in time before the 3 months. Is there some minimum time they must stay in their originating country before re entering Ireland again? Not sure where this information is!

I also saw that it's up to the emigration offices, that they have the final decision.

They are going to try apply to study here but I'm not sure how long that will take.

Hope you can help!

Thanks,

Stinicker

Webmonkey wrote: »

Hey there,

I've a friend from the US that is staying over here for a few months. (Up to less than 3 months, the valid amount of time). However, they want to come over again for a while after wards.

I know emigration are going to give them hassle when re entering the 2nd time but what is the law. I can't find any clear information on this.

From what I've seen (can't remember where :-/), it's okay once you return to your originating country in time before the 3 months. Is there some minimum time they must stay in their originating country before re entering Ireland again? Not sure where this information is!

I also saw that it's up to the emigration offices, that they have the final decision.

They are going to try apply to study here but I'm not sure how long that will take.

Hope you can help!

Thanks,

Is this friend a true blue American or have they any Irish lineage, if they have an Irish born grandparent they can get an Irish passport AFAIK and stay here for the rest of their life then if they wanted to.

Webmonkey

Hey thanks for the reply.

Unfort they don't have any irish connection

The Scientician

Do they want to stay for more than the 90 days? I could be wrong but it seems to me that if they can prove they have the means to support themselves they can ask for their visa stamp to be extended when entering the country, although whether they get the extension seems at the discretion of immigration here.

An acquaintance of mine had the experience where they left Ireland after the 90 days and returned a few days later (from the UK). The GNIB ordered them to leave the country within a week, but that they could appeal their situation at that immigration place on the quays. When they went there the person just asked how much longer they wanted to stay and stamped their passport accordingly. The difference in treatment and attitude between the police in the airport and the civil servants on the quays was remarkable. This was in 2009 fwiw.

Webmonkey

The Scientician wrote: »

Do they want to stay for more than the 90 days? I could be wrong but it seems to me that if they can prove they have the means to support themselves they can ask for their visa stamp to be extended when entering the company. An acquaintance of mine had the experience where they left Ireland after the 90 days and returned a few days later (from the UK). The GNIB ordered them to leave the country within a week, but that they could appeal their situation at that immigration place on the quays. When they went there the person just asked how much longer they wanted to stay and stamped their passport accordingly. The difference in treatment and attitude between the police in the airport and the civil servants on the quays was remarkable. This was in 2009 fwiw.

They have the means of supporting themselves no problem.

I've never heard of getting visa stamps extended. I've read that the max is 90 days for a holiday visa. Going back to the US and returning is what they want anyways to visit their family but we are worried about them coming back into Ireland the 2nd time.

The Scientician

Webmonkey wrote: »

I've never heard of getting visa stamps extended. I've read that the max is 90 days for a holiday visa.

There wouldn't be much call for it, most people wouldn't be on holiday here for more than three months. However, I can see nowhere in the rules where it says 90 days is the maximum allowed stay, only that it's the standard maximum as per the tourist visa. I'd recommend your friend maybe contact the local Irish embassy/consulate to clarify that coming back shortly after first trip is allowed. As I said, my friend was allowed stay the second time, but there was some hassle involved and I'm not sure it would definitely have been allowed for everyone in a similar situation.