Conference tallis::celt

The visa situation is always complex and there are no clear rules, as in all
bureaucracies.  Generally you have a few ways of getting a visa:

1) Get a job with a company that will get you either a temporary (L1) or
   permanent visa.
2) Apply on your bat and see what happens - some people I know have been
   lucky and have been accepted (takes 6-9 months tho).
3) Apply based on your technical skills.  I don't have all the details on
   this, but I know its much tougher than it used to be.  Its based on your
   educational back-ground and skill set. Generally you need to prove why its
   valuable and/or scarce in USA.  This is almost impossible to do in the
   Computer business.
4) Continue to play the yearly Green Card lottery, there is another coming up 
   in June 1994.


From my knowledge and limit experience in this area, except in #1, it will
be a slow and tedious process. I would recommend that you get to the nearest
US embassy and maybe get an appointment with a INS person.  Here in the USA
there are thousands of attorneys that handle it for you, but they tend to be
very expensive.

Of course after one gets a visa, the big problem is to get a job !!

Good luck.

    Rene ,  there is a new Green Card Lottery program just starting now.
    
    Info. can be got from the Embassey in Dublin.
    Sorry I have any details but it was announced just as I left Ireland
    last week.
    
    
    Eddie.

    
    Marry a US citizen

    From the Irish Emigrant:
    
    - More US visas are being made available to Irish people.  Countries
      which are categorised as "low admission" countries can each utilise
      up to 7% of a total of 55,000 "Diversity Visas" this year.  This
      means that 3,850 visas are available to applicants from the Republic
      and a similar number is available to people from the North.
      Applicants must have been born in the country from which they are
      applying and must have reached a certain standard of education, pass
      leaving certificate is sufficient.  Completed applications must be
      received in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, between June 1 and June 30.
      Those which arrive outside that period will be ignored.  Multiple
      applications will disqualify.  For more information on the "DV-1
      Program" phone the US Embassy in Dublin on 01-668-8049 or
      01-668-8549, or phone a US number, 202-663-1600.  These numbers are
      open on a 24-hour basis.
    
    
    Hope this helps,
    Joe.

    
    
    Is there any more formal info on this lottery, in particular is ita
    formal form or is it just a white page with some details - like last
    year.
    
    I have had a lot of people ask me, I called the Irish Embassy (not the
    pub) and got the usual help from Boston office; NOTHING.
    
    Thanks in advance for more details.
    
    

    
    	Does anyone have the address for the Schumer Visas? They
    	have to be in by the end of the month.
                                                           

    Another question on this topic.
    
    Do Irish passport holders still need a visit to visit the USA
    (business/pleasure mix) ?
    
    I seem to remember about 2 months ago that the requirement was lifted.
    
    Tony.

Hi,

There is now a "Visa Waiver"  program such that you can visit
the USA on business or pleasure without a visa.

This only applies to certain countries and if you're a national
of those countries its now aboout the only way you can get in because
they've all but stopped issuing regular Visa's.

They used to issue 'indefinite multiple entry visa' but they now 
only issue them for 10 years. If your visa is older you will be
permitted to enter the USA but your old one will be cancelled.

They [mult indef visa] are to be replaced by a 'Machine Readable Visa' at some
point in the future, of course they are so `efficient' that they cancelled the
old scheme before they have figured out the new.

There's one piece missing from all this - is Ireland on the Visa waiver
program? I'm pretty sure it is, I'll check tonight just to be sure.
The Visa waiver form is just like an old white I-94 but it has a
few more questions on the back and they come with no right of
appeal if you are refused entry.

M

I'm unable to verify this. I did see a list somewhere but it's not where
I thought it was (i.e. on the card).

They ask you to check with your airline but I'd be very surprised if
Ireland is not on the list.
M

    
    Yes we are part of this program. Also note that folk who have the
    indefinite travel visa (visitor visas0.........These will no longer
    be valid after 10 years from date of issue...
    
    Mick

    -1 & -2
    
    Thanks guys, it's as I suspected. I spoke to the folks at the American
    consulate here and they produced a list with Ireland not on it. I've
    got a multi-entry, indefinite visa but it's on an older passport so
    that's no good to me. I'll go thru the motions and apply for the visa;
    I reckon it's better to have it even if I don't actually need it.
    
    Tony.

Tony,

I don't know if what follows is valid for Ireland (it was true for Belgium 
though).
When we had a indefinite Visum, we could take our old passport and show it 
together with the new passport.
Maybe this might save you the hassle of re-applying.

Cheers,
Dirk

re: .-1

I was referring to that possibility earlier in this thread. They, the USA
State Dept., have introduced a 10 year time limit on Multiple Entry Visa's.
So check the date of your visa carefully.

Even if it has expired they will probably just cancel it on the spot
and let you in anyway.

Apparently the expiry date was set at 10 years to stop you using
an old passport to carry the visa.

M

    ..
    
    Well I lways use my old passport..which has the indefinte visa on
    it...No problem so far...(its less than 10 yrs old)
    
    Means carrying two passports of course...
    
    rgs,
    
    Mick
    

    Another route would be to get a Canadian passport (if you or your
    parents can prove citizenship).  Then there is no need for visas to the
    US.
    
    Pat

    
    
    Pat,
    
    Maybe you have an idea about this..What happens if you have a VISA (to
    work in canada)  And you want to travel down to the USA...Holiday..
    
    Can you breeze in or must you formalize the whole process with the US
    Embassey in canada (individual in question holds an Irish passport with
    a one year work visa)
    
    thanks in advance
    
    Mick
    

    -1
    
    Mick,
    
    the question has already been answered. If you have an Irish passport
    then you don't need a holiday visa. 
    
    Having said that, I went over to the US consulate today and checked the 
    list of countries NOT needing visas. Ireland wasn't on it. I don't know
    how up-to-date their info was but if I were you I'd check with the US
    embassy in Dublin.
    
    Tony.
    (Australia)
    

    
    Checked with USA embassy here in DUblin...Got a recorded announement
    which was very specific
    
    As and from 1 April 1995. Irish passport holders do NOT need a visa if
    travelling for Holidays, Business or in transit...for a period up to
    3 months...
    
    To check this you can call 00353-1-6688085 (USA embassy) Dublin.
    
    so thats that....
    
    rgs
    
    Mick
    

    -1 
    
    Thanks Mick.
    
    

    >>so thats that....
    
    So I don't have to answer your question then Mick?
    
    Hasta La Bye-bye,
    
    Pat
    (Great White North)