I am from the US and want to join my boyfriend in Ireland, anyone know how?

Question

My boyfriend and I have been dating for over a year now and I will graduate from college in December. Right now we are checking into the possibilities of me coming over there for the spring (but over the 90 day limit of a tourist visa). I have called our Irish Embassy and he has called their Department of Justice but noone is willing to do anything besides provide us with websites or answers like- 90 days, work permit, blah blah blah. I don't necessarily need to work I just want to know if its possible for me to go over there for a while so we're not trying to do the across-the-atlantic thing! Any contact numbers or websites that tell me SOMETHING would be much appreciated!

Answer 1

I THINK you can get a working visa if you are a student. Or if you are under 30 you can get a working visa . You must apply and have a certain amount of money in your account but its pretty easy. If you are Canadian this applies but i think its the same for Americans. The best web site to check is www.travelcuts.com. They tell all the requirements for students and for different countries. If you over stay your visa, its not the end of the world. No one will do anything to you until you leave. Then they might charge you according to how long you over stayed. This depends on the country. Greece does this for sure. France and Germany might black list you, so for a year you can't enter the E.U. But this usually happens when you have stayed here for 10 years or so. My advice would be to leave through Italy if you do overstay your visa. They don't care. They are too busy trying to look down your shirt. I have left through there many times, as have friends. We all live in Greece and have been illegal at some point. Don't stress too much. Good luck.

Answer 2

If he is a citizen there, get married.

Answer 3

become a forigegn excahange student and have him take you in

Answer 4

Hey there,

The website info here is probably what you have been given.

http://www.irelandemb.org/living.html#re...

The imigration service are concerned with the reason for which you want to stay.  This determines the nature of the entry visa.If you can proove that you will be supported and have no need of working etc then they may well provide you with an extended stay visa.

The chances of getting this are probably higher if you state this in the first place and apply as soon as you arrive in Ireland. The immigration officials often don't accept that people just change their minds.

If you want to show evidence of this write a letter to the embassy explaining your intention to go and apply for the extention when you get there and ask for confirmation on how you would do this.

You can then use their written reply as evidence later.

If you have no visa on arrival it is up to the offical at the port of entry to decide if they think you are likely to comply with the 90 days rule.    This is why they ask you where you are staying and who with  etc.....

I think you will also find that exiting the country and re-entering will only work if you travel through imigration again at which point they may refuse entry.  This would also apply if you went for 90 days and then returned to the US for a short while and went back.

The officials may well think that you have been working and that is why you have returned.

Be aware that many people do enter countries like this with every intention of working, I don't make any judgement on this myself but immigration officials will...

I hope that this all works out for you and your boyfriend and that you enjoy your stay in Ireland.  My advice would be to follow their guidelines no matter how much red tape there seems to be as the last thing you would want to happen is to be refused entry.

If you get a refused entry on your passport it will follow you for some time and if you did want to move to Ireland they would likely take it into account.

Look up this link to the Shengen agreement on wider issues with stays in the EU(ish) area (it is very boring but makes a few good points)

http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l33...

I have lived in a number of countries and been through alot of this kind of red tape.......

There is another approach.....read the links carefully to see what this means.....

The UK has different rules.

You can enter the UK and visit for up to 6 months, as long as you can show how you will fund this.   Once you are in the UK you are entitled to travel to Ireland under this arrangement.  This is a special arrangement with the Republic and does not apply to other EU countries.  Many people form the US do a tour of europe etc so  6 months travelling is not unreasonable if you an show how you would pay for it.....

Have a good look at the following website

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/lawandp...

check this section

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/lawandp...

and this section for the common travel area.

You are not likely to be stopped at immigration if you travel to Ireland by ferry from the UK.

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/lawandp...

Good luck whatever you decide to do!

Answer 5

Surely if you left Ireland for England or other nearby country for a short stay like a weekend at the end of your three months and then returned you would get another three months on your passport?

Trips over to England and Europe are very inexpensive and that would maybe be your answer?