Immigration Advice for 2 separated South African sisters

A

alicat

Guest
Good morning. I was wondering if anyone could refer me to an immigration specialist. I am making enquiries on behalf of an employee who has been with us for 6 years. She's applied for her citizenship and there is no reason to believe that she wont get it in the next 12 months.

Her concerns relate to her long term future as she loves Ireland and considers it home, but her only family, her sister, is in South Africa. They are very very close and its hard on them being so far away + she has constant worries regarding her sister's safety in SA with their ongoing problems with crime.

The sister has no way of securing a work permit or authorisation in her own right, is currently 44 years of age, and has no real significant financial resources. The sisters' joint dream was to be able to retire together in Ireland and to this end they had hoped it would be possible to be reunited in about 15 to 20 years time.

The questions concern whether the sister would get citizenship on the basis of our employee becoming an Irish citizen, and/or whether our employee could sponsor or guarantee all costs associated with her sister. I know this sounds strange but these folks do not want or expect to be a burden on the State. They want to earn and pay their own way.

I have a rotten feeling that only parents and children can claim for citizenship on the basis of their relative's Irish nationality. I need to confirm this and see if there's any chance for a plan B?

Of course if S.A. goes the way of Zimbabwe they may have grounds for refugee status but that's hypothetical at this stage and is also a whole different set of questions.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.
 
Its very difficult to believe that they are "very very close" when you consider that they have been living 1000s miles apart for at least the last 6 years. There is no way that you could claim that they are dependent on each other.

I suspect that the only way the sister will get residency in Ireland is to earn it on her own merit, not through your employee.
 
no reason to believe that she wont get it in the next 12 months.
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I think the backlog in processing citizenship applications is something like 3 years from date of application?

They want to earn and pay their own way.
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How will they do that? the sister has no financial resources, will the one sister support both through to retirement etc? Without the second sister claiming state pension etc?
 
Try the Immigrant Council of Ireland who may be able to give you information and advice.

[broken link removed] a link to their phone number and opening hours.
 


Your comment seems a bit harsh. Circumstances can force the most loving family to have to part. I can imagine how difficult it is for two sisters to be seperated by circumstances beyond their control. Your comment would make sense if part of the process was to prove dependency as part of an immigration process. Failing that, your comment could be a bit insensitive.

As to earning it on her own merit, if they're planning to do this when they retire, employment isnt a factor which is why they're tyring to work out whether a family connection is sufficient.

I personally wish them every luck in reuniting and living close to each other in their later years. Hopefully they'll enjoy the same good fortune so many of our Irish brethren have enjoyed when they've moved to other countries.

Last thought - the Irish sister could have enough money to support them. That's probably why she's trying to find out if she's allowed to do this. Your conclusion could be interpreted as a tad judgemental.
 
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