Jaj

With respect to visa operations for Ireland being relocated to London:

1. Despite Canada having an embassy in Dublin, all those from the ROI
wanting to migrate to Canada have had to apply via London for some
time. New Zealanders wishing to apply to Canada have got to apply via
the Canadian consulate in Sydney.

2. Most of the ROI is as close geographically to London as Scotland
is. A lot closer than most of Australia is to Papua New Guinea!

3. People who require visas to be evidenced in London (eg migration
visas granted in Adelaide) do not need to travel there personally.
Same applies to other applications, unless an interview is required.
Even then, this can sometimes be done by phone.

4. If a visit to London is required, Irish citizens can travel freely
to the UK. Again, it's no more of an issue than it is for those from
further flung parts of the UK.

5. As for the 'sensitivities' between Britain and Ireland, I can't
imagine why Australia should give any sympathy to that, when there is
such a high degree of economic and social integration between the two
countries. As evidenced by the high number of Irish citizens living
in the UK - with full citizenship rights - and vice versa.

6. Some other smaller European countries - such as Denmark and
Belgium - are also served by DIMIA posts in neighbouring countries.
This trend is likely to continue.

Jeremy


    >On Fri, 18 Apr 2003 10:44:09 +0000, visagranted wrote:
    >"2. Development of the ETA, for which Irish citizens are eligible, and
    >Internet applications for working holiday visas, again meant less work
    >for Dublin.
    >In my opinion, more of DIMIA's smaller offices will close in the next
    >few years as processing gets centralised either in Australia, or a
    >smaller number of offshore posts. In the case of the Republic of
    >Ireland, DIMIA consider it appropriate for the residual work to be
    >handled from London."
    >***************
    >My problem with this is, it's more or less like saying to the large
    >number of Australian and New Zealand migrants to Ireland
    >each year that they should get there visa's picked up from Papua New
    >Guinea. The sensitivity with the history of Britain and Ireland
    >maybe should have been addressed when making this decision.
    >Anyway, I guess me and you don't make the rules :-)
    >Thanks again for all the help you've given me.
    >Cheers,
    >P
    >Jeremy
    >--
    >Posted via http://britishexpats.com

This is not intended to be legal advice in any jurisdiction

Beaven

thanks all of you

Beaven

visagranted

Hi Jeremy

"1. Centralisation of many visa operations in Australia - not just
general skilled in Adelaide, but others including business skills and
offshore parent visas in Perth, means that there is less for the
smaller offshore posts to do."

**************
I guess in the long run once they have sorted out the teething
problems, this will prove to be both cost and time effective.

"2. Development of the ETA, for which Irish citizens are eligible, and Internet applications for working holiday visas, again meant less work for Dublin.

In my opinion, more of DIMIA's smaller offices will close in the next
few years as processing gets centralised either in Australia, or a
smaller number of offshore posts. In the case of the Republic of
Ireland, DIMIA consider it appropriate for the residual work to be
handled from London."

***************
My problem with this is, it's more or less like saying to the large number of Australian and New Zealand migrants to Ireland
each year that they should get there visa's picked up from Papua New Guinea. The sensitivity with the history of Britain and Ireland
maybe should have been addressed when making this decision.

Anyway, I guess me and you don't make the rules :-)

Thanks again for all the help you've given me.
Cheers,
P

Jeremy

Jaj

Hi P

    >On Tue, 22 Apr 2003 10:28:09 +0000, OZ_Oneday wrote:
    >Irish people find it very hard to accept authority from London
    >after all the recognised injustice that has been thrown
    >down to us from the location. This is nothing todo with
    >British people, just the history of what has happened
    >and the consequences of British actions in Ireland.

The Australian High Commission in London is Australian territory, not
British I'm not sure where 'authority from London' comes into
things.

Some other countries, such as New Zealand, cannot even justify
maintaining embassies in Dublin, although they do have diplomatic
relations with Ireland. The NZ High Commissioner to London therefore
has a separate accreditation as Ambassador to Ireland. Same applies
in reverse, as Ireland doesn't have a physical embassy in Wellington,
so the Irish Ambassador to Australia, resident in Canberra, has a
separate accreditation as Ambassador to NZ. All this is perfectly
normal and usual in the diplomatic world and has no bearing at all on
recognition of national sovereignty.

As for the other points, here is not the place to debate the history
of Britain vs Ireland, except to observe that from an Australian
perspective there two countries appear to be economically and socially
very close today. Certainly close enough to warrant residual visa
services to Ireland being provided from the High Commission in London,
as opposed to the embassy in Dublin.

    >The solution is simple, let us send our passports be
    >given in Ireland or at the very least sent to Australia
    >to be validated (mine was nominated as Dublin, as
    >the embassy was operating at the time, I was informed to goto
    >London).

People who have applied for general skilled migration to Adelaide can
get their visas evidenced there, if they really don't want to deal
with London.

Even a visa evidencing facility costs money, and it is not Australian
policy for one to be put in every single embassy and consulate
worldwide. Once you become an Australian citizen you'll be able to
complain to your Federal MP, but I can't see the Australian ministers
being persuaded that this offers value to the Australian taxpayer.


    >Should any interviews be needed, let's do them
    >in Dublin.....there is an embassy there.....

I don't know what the interview arrangements for spouse and certain
other visas are in the UK/Ireland. One hopes that phone interviews
would be at the Australian authorites expense. There is no reason why
offcers from London can't travel to Dublin to conduct interviews on a
regular schedule in the embassy there.

That doesn't alter the original point which is that the workload of
Dublin had dropped greatly compared to 8 or so years ago because of
policy and processing changes, and the cost to the Australian taxpayer
of maintaining a DIMIA post there could no longer be justified.

Jeremy
This is not intended to be legal advice in any jurisdiction

OZ_Oneday

Hi Jeremy,

1. Despite Canada having an embassy in Dublin, all those from the ROI
wanting to migrate to Canada have had to apply via London for some
time. New Zealanders wishing to apply to Canada have got to apply via
the Canadian consulate in Sydney.
******

This may be true and if it is, it is also a major problem
for Irish people. Again with Canada/Australia having embassys in Ireland it would make things a lot easier
to actually have at the very least a "pick up service" in Dublin.

2. Most of the ROI is as close geographically to London as Scotland
is. A lot closer than most of Australia is to Papua New Guinea!

******
Geographically yes, but we still have to pay money to
go on a plane (or pay extra postage) to goto a foreign country
to pick up our visas.

3. People who require visas to be evidenced in London (eg migration
visas granted in Adelaide) do not need to travel there personally.
Same applies to other applications, unless an interview is required.
Even then, this can sometimes be done by phone.

******
"Unless an interview is required", which again means an
expensive trip to a foreign country.

4. If a visit to London is required, Irish citizens can travel freely
to the UK. Again, it's no more of an issue than it is for those from
further flung parts of the UK.

******
" Again, it's no more of an issue than it is for those from
further flung parts of the UK."

Ireland is not part of the UK. So for people in Scotland, Wales
and british people living in Northern Ireland, it is not an issue
as London is the head of administration for the UK.
Not the case in Ireland. When I applied for residency to
Australia, I was not expecting to have to deal with a third
party country in my process. It's kind of like an american
applying for Irish residency and being told to do their interviews
in Mexico. (Even in this case, at least there is no sea between
them).

5. As for the 'sensitivities' between Britain and Ireland, I can't
imagine why Australia should give any sympathy to that, when there is
such a high degree of economic and social integration between the two
countries. As evidenced by the high number of Irish citizens living
in the UK - with full citizenship rights - and vice versa.

*******
True !, Australian governments have not had a great record on "sensitivities" created by the actions of previous British
governments. But in this case Irish people do live and work
in the UK, But I think you'll find Irish people live and work
all over the world. So I don't see what link this has
to us picking up our visas there ?

"Montserrat" is populated by Dalys, Farrels and Ryans
, they even stamp your passport with a shamrock.
Maybe we should get our visas evidenced there :-)

(Obviously I'm kidding with the Montserrat story but
the point is clear).

6. Some other smaller European countries - such as Denmark and
Belgium - are also served by DIMIA posts in neighbouring countries.
This trend is likely to continue.

******

I see the trend you are talking about. But I'm not talking
about Denmark of Belgium. (Two great countrys who
no doubt can at least drive to their appointed embassy)
, the problem here can be summed up as follows.

Irish people find it very hard to accept authority from London
after all the recognised injustice that has been thrown
down to us from the location. This is nothing todo with
British people, just the history of what has happened
and the consequences of British actions in Ireland.

The solution is simple, let us send our passports be
given in Ireland or at the very least sent to Australia
to be validated (mine was nominated as Dublin, as
the embassy was operating at the time, I was informed to goto
London). Should any interviews be needed, let's do them
in Dublin.....there is an embassy there.....

With much respect.
P

OZ_Oneday

Apologies that should have read....

The solution is simple, let our visas be
given in Ireland or at the very least, our passports sent to Australia to be validated (mine was nominated as Dublin, as
the embassy was operating at the time, I was informed to goto
London). Should any interviews be needed, let's do them
in Dublin.....there is an embassy there.....