Processes that relate to immigration can often prove to be difficult to navigate. Obtaining the likes of Visas and Irish citizenship can lead to problems for many. 

It is best to enlist the help of an immigration solicitor when dealing with such proceedings. At Sinnotts Solicitors, our immigration experts can help you to get the solution you desire. 

With offices in both Dublin and Cork, we are one of Ireland’s most trusted legal firms, with over 15 years of business. 

So if you have any concerns relating to immigration law, get in touch with our experts today. 

Índice

What is an immigration solicitor?

An immigration solicitor is a legal expert who specialises in complex areas of law relating to nationality, citizenship and Visa issues. Immigration solicitors cover a wide variety of services and can help you navigate this area of the law. 

Immigration lawyers can be helpful when it comes to trying to get Irish citizenship, various types of Visas, asylum and many more.

What services does an immigration solicitor offer

At Sinnott Solicitors, our team offers an array of services that you can benefit from. Some of these include:

At Sinnott Solicitors, our experts can help you to obtain Irish citizenship and naturalisation for those who seek it. Our legal team can help guide you through this often complex process. 

Citizenship is by no means a straightforward process, this is why it is always best to enlist the help of a legal expert. Once you get in touch, we begin forming an understanding of what our clients need. 

You can become an Irish citizen in a number of different ways. This can include having Irish grandparents, residence in the State, being a spouse of an Irish national and many other ways. 

There are a lot of different aspects that go into an application for citizenship. This is why it is important you work with our solicitors to have your citizenship granted.

Should you wish to obtain a work permit, our legal experts can help you with that. This can be done in a number of different ways, however this can be a complex ordeal for our clients. 

There are a significant amount of work permits that you can apply for. These include: 

  • Critical skills employment permits 
  • General employment permits 
  • Intra company transfer permits 
  • Atypical workers scheme 
  • Carimbo 4 cartas de apoio 
  • Posted workers 
  • Health care worker permits 

You cannot take up employment in the state without a valid work permit or green card. 

At Sinnott Solicitors, we also offer services in relation to the renewal of employment permits.

If you wish to take up residency in the State for retirement reasons, you must apply for a Visa to do such. The official name for this visa is a D-Reside Visa. 

The application for this Visa will also require a Conditional Letter of Offer. 

You must obtain this Visa before entering the State. You require a D-Reside Visa for stays in the State of longer than three months.

You can attain immigration permission based on the Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme, also known as STEP. 

STEP is a complicated procedure, however a beneficial one for business owners. In 2012, it was introduced by the Irish government to allow entrepreneurs to reside in Ireland to establish their own businesses. 

An evaluation committee will consider your proposal and will make recommendations to the Minister for Justice and Equality regarding the application. 

You may be asked to provide additional information to the committee. You can not have had any criminal offences in the past when making a STEP proposal. 

A successful applicant will be granted residency in the State for two years, subject to complying with STEP policies. You may then be eligible for a residency extension of three years. 

Following a five year period, applicants can apply for Irish citizenship and long term residency in the State.

Immigration Stamps in Ireland indicate how long an individual can stay in the State and what they are permitted to do during residency. These stamps range from Stamp 0 to Stamp 6. 

Carimbo 0 

Those looking to study or retire in Ireland should apply for a Stamp 0. This will permit you to stay in Ireland for a temporary period under certain conditions. 

You must be independent, not a recipient of benefits, have private medical insurance and not be working or engaging in business in order to receive this stamp. 

Carimbo 1 

Stamp 1 will allow people to work and do business in Ireland. Time periods of residency can vary, however you can renew your Stamp 1 if it expires. 

Stamp 1A 

With a Stamp 1A, you will be permitted to take full time, paid accountancy training within an Irish company. You can only be a trainee accountant with this stamp and not engage in other professions or other companies. 

Stamp 1G 

A Stamp 1G is given to graduate students who studied in Ireland and now seek employment in the State. This stamp means that you will not need a work permit to seek employment. 

This stamp will last for 12 months. If you have a master’s degree, then you will have the stamp for 24 months. 

Stamp 2 

A Stamp 2 will allow recipients to study full time in Ireland. There are a series of criteria you must abide by with a Stamp 2, including not receiving benefits and working a maximum of 20 hours per week in the school term. 

Stamp 2A 

A Stamp 2A is largely similar to a Stamp 2. However, a Stamp 2A is for any course not on the official Interim List of Eligible Programmes. 

You are not permitted to work with a Stamp 2A. 

Carimbo 3 

A Stamp 3 is permitted to volunteers of a charity, ministers of religion or a person joining their non-EEA spouse who has a work permit. 

You cannot work with a Stamp 3 unless it is in relation to a non-profit organisation or religion. 

Carimbo 4 

A Stamp 4 comes with significant benefits, such as access to funds of the State, permission for employment and permission to establish your own business. 

The time spent in Ireland with a Stamp 4 is also reckonable residence, which can contribute to an Irish citizenship application. 

Stamp 4D  

Stamp 4D is a passport stamp created in relation to Brexit. It is a stamp for non-EEA relations of UK citizens who seek residency in Ireland. 

Only spouses and dependent children are eligible for a Stamp 4D. 

Stamp 5 

You can receive a Stamp 5 if you have completed eight years as a legal resident in Ireland. This stamp will allow people to stay in Ireland ‘Without Condition As to Time’. 

A Stamp 5 is valid until the expiration of their passport. 

Stamp 6 

You can remain in Ireland with a Stamp 6 without condition. These stamps are given to people who are naturalised Irish citizens with dual citizenship. 

This stamp will allow you to come in and out of Ireland, enjoying the benefits that come with being an Irish citizen. 

If you have any queries about any of the above stamps, or not sure which stamp is best suited to you, speak to our immigration solicitors today.

Sinnott Solicitors can help to provide international protection for thousands of our clients in the past. We can help to provide international protection through the likes of refugee status, subsidiary protection and humanitarian leave to remain.

There are a number of different reasons why an individual may want to change their immigration status. No matter the reason, Sinnott Solicitors is eager to help our clients make the necessary changes. 

One of the most common reasons why immigration status may be changed is due to their position being changed due to the status of their spouse or partner. 

You will be able to make an immigration status change when you have Stamps 1-4.

The Zambrano application is used by parents who are non-EEA nationals who have parents who are Irish born. 

A successful Zambrano application will allow the parents to reside in the State to provide for their children.

You will apply for humanitarian leave if you do not qualify for the likes of refugee status or subsidiary protection. A successful application will allow you to remain within the state. 

Your application will be approved through the discretion of the Minister for Justice.

One may want to make a judicial review application if they wish to challenge decisions made by administrative bodies and lower courts. 

If your judicial review application is successful, the case will then be decided on the basis of written evidence, with generally no oral evidence submitted. The outcome is that the relevant decision is set aside.

A successful long term residency application will allow applicants to extend their stay in the state with the right to study and/or work, without Irish citizenship. 

You can only apply for long term residency after you have been residing in the state for 5 years.

If there are other areas of immigration law that you need assistance with, simply get in contact without our legal team today. 

At Sinnott Solicitors, we cover a vast selection of services in relation to immigration dealings. This means if you have any other immigration queries, we can still be of service to you.

Benefits of using an immigration solicitor

Proceedings in relation to immigration law can be complex and difficult to navigate without expert advice. By using an immigration solicitor, you can be professionally guided and advised through any issues you are having. 

At Sinnott Solicitors, our team has significant experience in all matters relating to immigration law. This includes all of the above services and more. 

As one of the most trusted law firms in Ireland, you can have peace of mind knowing you picked the right team with Sinnott Solicitors. 

Steps of Irish immigration matters

To make progress in your immigration needs, follow these steps:

The first thing you want to do is get in contact with an immigration solicitor. Although you do not legally require a solicitor, proceedings in immigration law can be very complex, meaning you will benefit from having expert advice.

Once your solicitor understands your needs and situation, they will begin to come up with a solution. This means they will be able to identify what applications, documents and requirements you need.

When your solicitor has a clear understanding of the situation, they will begin the process of forming your application. This is a carefully conducted step to give you the best chance of getting the right outcome.

At Sinnott Solicitors, we will offer you legal support throughout all of your needs. This means if you experience further complications after your application, we will be there to guide and advise you.

Frequently asked questions

There are situations in which you can make an immigration application for your loved ones. This may include those outside of the State.

Although you do not legally require a solicitor to make an application, these proceedings are very complex. This means you will benefit significantly from having a legal expert guiding the process.

A Visa application can take varying amounts of time based on circumstances. However, they can typically last 8 weeks. 

There may be situations where your application exceeds this time period.

Contact us today

Immigration proceedings can be stressful and complicated. That is why we are eager to find a resolution for our clients as soon as possible. 

With significant experience in this area of law, our experts can give you the advice and guidance to get you the best outcome. 

By getting in contact with us today, we can immediately get to work on sorting whatever result you desire. Simply get in touch and we will begin to help you in any way that we can.