Ireland tourist Visa
Apr 14, 2014, 5:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 314
Ireland tourist Visa
Hi Guys,
I was wondering if anyone here has applied for a tourist visa to visit Ireland. How long did it take and how exhaustive was the process. My and my wife have an upcoming trip with about 3.5 weeks to go. We sent our Visa application and supporting documents today to San Francisco consulate. Was wondering if this is enough time or change the flights.
The flights were award tickets and we have some flexibility but booked these dates based on availability.
Thanks.
Sud
I was wondering if anyone here has applied for a tourist visa to visit Ireland. How long did it take and how exhaustive was the process. My and my wife have an upcoming trip with about 3.5 weeks to go. We sent our Visa application and supporting documents today to San Francisco consulate. Was wondering if this is enough time or change the flights.
The flights were award tickets and we have some flexibility but booked these dates based on availability.
Thanks.
Sud
Apr 14, 2014, 5:51 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OH
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, Marriot Lifetime Gold
Posts: 9,537
Hi Guys,
I was wondering if anyone here has applied for a tourist visa to visit Ireland. How long did it take and how exhaustive was the process. My and my wife have an upcoming trip with about 3.5 weeks to go. We sent our Visa application and supporting documents today to San Francisco consulate. Was wondering if this is enough time or change the flights.
The flights were award tickets and we have some flexibility but booked these dates based on availability.
Thanks.
Sud
I was wondering if anyone here has applied for a tourist visa to visit Ireland. How long did it take and how exhaustive was the process. My and my wife have an upcoming trip with about 3.5 weeks to go. We sent our Visa application and supporting documents today to San Francisco consulate. Was wondering if this is enough time or change the flights.
The flights were award tickets and we have some flexibility but booked these dates based on availability.
Thanks.
Sud
Apr 18, 2014, 10:55 am
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,159
This may have something to do with it and although I sympathise with your situation I'm wondering whether you found it any easy to acquire a work visa for the US ?
Apr 19, 2014, 3:16 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,209
I don't think you've allowed enough time.
I'm Irish and renewing my Irish passport, a straightforward endeavour, through the Irish embassy in London, the nearest one to home, took six weeks from handing the application over to receiving the new passport in the mail. Your request is more complex, from a more distant location, and allows less time.
I'm Irish and renewing my Irish passport, a straightforward endeavour, through the Irish embassy in London, the nearest one to home, took six weeks from handing the application over to receiving the new passport in the mail. Your request is more complex, from a more distant location, and allows less time.
Apr 19, 2014, 3:24 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 314
The whole of Europe has a serious problem with illegal immigration and refugees and Ireland is an easy back route into the UK, the most popular destination, because ID is not required on ferries.
This may have something to do with it and although I sympathise with your situation I'm wondering whether you found it any easy to acquire a work visa for the US ?
This may have something to do with it and although I sympathise with your situation I'm wondering whether you found it any easy to acquire a work visa for the US ?
.
Apr 19, 2014, 3:27 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 314
I don't think you've allowed enough time.
I'm Irish and renewing my Irish passport, a straightforward endeavour, through the Irish embassy in London, the nearest one to home, took six weeks from handing the application over to receiving the new passport in the mail. Your request is more complex, from a more distant location, and allows less time.
I'm Irish and renewing my Irish passport, a straightforward endeavour, through the Irish embassy in London, the nearest one to home, took six weeks from handing the application over to receiving the new passport in the mail. Your request is more complex, from a more distant location, and allows less time.
The hardest part to me is that they do not have a tracking methodology, the only way to get any info is to call a 1800 number which costs $3 a min. I am surprised why they would charge that much.
Apr 19, 2014, 4:22 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,607
I haave some experience with this. I think most of the denials are students who don't show evidence of funding. What they're looking for is proof that you're not planning to stay. If you're staying with family or friends in Ireland and have no job to return to they might not like that but if you have a job back home and the financial records they ask for then you shouldn't have a problem getting a visa.
3.5 weeks is indeed a bit short though. I would give you a 80% chance of getting it in time but expect it to be *just* in time. Visas for Indian nationals in particular seem to take a while. I only have one data point matching your constraints but it took almost 4 weeks to get that visa. Most other consulates seemed to take about 2 weeks but India and the US were the slowest.
You could try sending in a letter specifically highlighting the timeline and asking for their help getting it in time for your flight. Letters to the consulate do get read by humans who do have some flexibility.
3.5 weeks is indeed a bit short though. I would give you a 80% chance of getting it in time but expect it to be *just* in time. Visas for Indian nationals in particular seem to take a while. I only have one data point matching your constraints but it took almost 4 weeks to get that visa. Most other consulates seemed to take about 2 weeks but India and the US were the slowest.
You could try sending in a letter specifically highlighting the timeline and asking for their help getting it in time for your flight. Letters to the consulate do get read by humans who do have some flexibility.
Apr 19, 2014, 4:27 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 314
I haave some experience with this. I think most of the denials are students who don't show evidence of funding. What they're looking for is proof that you're not planning to stay. If you're staying with family or friends in Ireland and have no job to return to they might not like that but if you have a job back home and the financial records they ask for then you shouldn't have a problem getting a visa.
3.5 weeks is indeed a bit short though. I would give you a 80% chance of getting it in time but expect it to be *just* in time. Visas for Indian nationals in particular seem to take a while. I only have one data point matching your constraints but it took almost 4 weeks to get that visa. Most other consulates seemed to take about 2 weeks but India and the US were the slowest.
You could try sending in a letter specifically highlighting the timeline and asking for their help getting it in time for your flight. Letters to the consulate do get read by humans who do have some flexibility.
3.5 weeks is indeed a bit short though. I would give you a 80% chance of getting it in time but expect it to be *just* in time. Visas for Indian nationals in particular seem to take a while. I only have one data point matching your constraints but it took almost 4 weeks to get that visa. Most other consulates seemed to take about 2 weeks but India and the US were the slowest.
You could try sending in a letter specifically highlighting the timeline and asking for their help getting it in time for your flight. Letters to the consulate do get read by humans who do have some flexibility.
Apr 21, 2014, 6:27 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,655
Just as a note, Indian citizens who hold multiple entry UK visitor visas are granted visa-free access to Ireland (provided that visa has been used to visit the UK in the past).
It is easier to acquire a UK visa and then travel to Ireland via the UK to get around Ireland's own odious visa requirements. If you already have a UK visa that has been used and is still valid, you can travel directly to Ireland as well.
It is easier to acquire a UK visa and then travel to Ireland via the UK to get around Ireland's own odious visa requirements. If you already have a UK visa that has been used and is still valid, you can travel directly to Ireland as well.
Apr 21, 2014, 6:42 am
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
The whole of Europe has a serious problem with illegal immigration and refugees and Ireland is an easy back route into the UK, the most popular destination, because ID is not required on ferries.
This may have something to do with it and although I sympathise with your situation I'm wondering whether you found it any easy to acquire a work visa for the US ?
This may have something to do with it and although I sympathise with your situation I'm wondering whether you found it any easy to acquire a work visa for the US ?
Apr 21, 2014, 8:54 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 314
Just as a note, Indian citizens who hold multiple entry UK visitor visas are granted visa-free access to Ireland (provided that visa has been used to visit the UK in the past).
It is easier to acquire a UK visa and then travel to Ireland via the UK to get around Ireland's own odious visa requirements. If you already have a UK visa that has been used and is still valid, you can travel directly to Ireland as well.
It is easier to acquire a UK visa and then travel to Ireland via the UK to get around Ireland's own odious visa requirements. If you already have a UK visa that has been used and is still valid, you can travel directly to Ireland as well.
Apr 21, 2014, 8:57 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 314
I got good news today. We got our tourist visas approved last friday and the Fedex package was here today with our passports. This is by far the fastest visa anything I ever had to deal with. Our package was delivered in SF on tuesday, and they turned it to Fedex on Friday. That is 3 + days from delivery to pickup.
I like to think the way we arranged everything in the packet might have made some difference. But anyhow, SF Ireland consulate got a big plus from us.
I like to think the way we arranged everything in the packet might have made some difference. But anyhow, SF Ireland consulate got a big plus from us.
Feb 26, 2016, 2:25 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 3
Visa Ireland 7 month noq
Dears Fellows
I hope every body keeping well, I was wondering if anyone here has applied for a tourist visa to visit Ireland. How long did it take. We sent our Visa application and supporting documents last July 2015 to Islamabad through Gerry post and get confirmation from Dublin Visa centre received in 10th of August 2015 and still waiting for them response.
please some one give me a positive response why i am delayed by them or they last my documents.
waiting for positive advice and response.
Shageem Ali
I hope every body keeping well, I was wondering if anyone here has applied for a tourist visa to visit Ireland. How long did it take. We sent our Visa application and supporting documents last July 2015 to Islamabad through Gerry post and get confirmation from Dublin Visa centre received in 10th of August 2015 and still waiting for them response.
please some one give me a positive response why i am delayed by them or they last my documents.
waiting for positive advice and response.
Shageem Ali
Last edited by shageem; Feb 26, 2016 at 3:04 am