Immigration Arrangements for Hosting Agreement Holders
09 Jan 2012
Additional Immigration Arrangements, with effect from 1st January 2012 for persons who have worked as a researcher as a Hosting Agreement holder for 2 year or longer
Revised Arrangements
Hosting Agreement holders whose Hosting Agreement and immigration registration card (GNIB card) are due to expire, after 1st January 2012, having completed 2 years working in the State are not required to apply to the Irish Universities Association to have their Hosting Agreements renewed/extended.
Such persons may present in person to the Garda National Immigration Bureau or, if living outside the Dublin area, to the Garda registration office in the relevant Garda district, for renewal of their immigration registration and may be issued with a Stamp 4.
Persons who qualify for Stamp 4 and whose permission has been renewed on Stamp 1 do not need to return to the immigration office to have their permission updated. Stamp 4 permission will be issued on their next registration i.e. if you have been a researcher for over 2 years and your permission expires in June 2012 there is no need to register until your current permission is due to expire in June.
Where registration is renewed a Stamp 4 will be issued for a 2 years duration.
Conditions
Persons in the above situation must have complied with their previous Hosting Agreement and immigration conditions and be of good character. Stamp 4 may be granted but it should be noted that the Garda National Immigration Bureau is entitled to refuse registration where there is a valid ground for doing so e.g. the person has come to the adverse attention of the Gardaí or there is evidence that the person lived outside the State for most or all of the previous period of immigration permission, etc.
The immigration Stamp 4 which issues will be valid for 2 years. However, where the person's passport expires earlier than 2 years after registration the Stamp 4 will be given up to the expiry date of the passport. The person concerned may present again to have the remaining period of registration endorsed in their new passport.
Family members
The Spouse, partner or dependants of Hosting Agreement holders will be granted an extension on their current immigration permission and will be granted for the same duration of time as the Hosting Agreement holder or the Stamp 4 holder, as appropriate.
For the spouse or partner who wishes to work in the State, it may be possible to change the immigration stamp from 3 to 1 where an Employment/Spousal/Dependant permit is issued by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
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