Thousands are waiting for IRP card renewals…
DUBLIN: Despite the Irish government recently extending the deadline for applications to renew Irish residence permit cards, thousands of people are still waiting for IRP cards.
Individuals can now renew their IRP (Garda Card) cards up to 12 weeks before their expiration date. Previously, the Irish authorities would only accept IRP renewal requests up to four weeks before the expiration date.
The Garda authorities have confirmed that they are currently processing renewal applications submitted on or before January 3, 2023. However, the complaint is that those who submitted their application in November before that date have yet to receive their IRP card renewal.
They can stay in Ireland for another eight weeks if they apply for a renewal when their current IRP card expires and do not receive it.
Additional staff have been assigned to help ensure all applications are processed before card expiration dates.
At the same time, the applicants say that they have to wait for more than three months to renew their cards at the Garda National Immigration Bureau. The authorities’ unwillingness to end this arrangement made during the COVID period is causing difficulties for many people.
EU/Non-EEA citizens from countries including India who work in hospitals and multinational companies are suffering due to this. Third-level international students have also been adversely affected.
In the midst of the COVID restrictions, GNIB has implemented a new system for renewing residency permits. According to this, a situation has arisen where the card cannot be renewed for up to 90 days. During this time, cardholders are not permitted to leave the country, even in an emergency. This situation is said to be causing a lot of frustration and sadness.
All COVID restrictions in the country have been lifted. Nonetheless, the authorities are unwilling to do so only in this system. There is a popular demand to take action to restore this system to the way it was before COVID.
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