Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation Sends Email Alert, Leads to Questions From Foreign Nationals

The situation

Foreign nationals who have previously submitted applications for Critical Skills Employment Permits or Stamp 4 Support Letters may have received an email alert on December 21 from the Department of Business, Enterprise, and Innovation (DBEI). The email alert was also sent to foreign nationals who do not have a current employment permit application pending with DBEI.

A closer look

The email alert, which had the subject line “Important notice for Critical Skills Employment Permit holders intending to apply to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation for a Stamp 4 support letter” included information about:

• Processing delays. The DBEI is aware that there is a significant backlog of Stamp 4 applications due to an increased volume in employment permit applications.
• Advice from previous announcement. DBEI reiterated their announcement that foreign nationals with pending Stamp 4 status applications can reside and work in Ireland once they have completed 20 months under their Critical Skills Employment Permit and recommended that Critical Skills Employment Permit holders apply for a Stamp 4 letter of support four months before they need the letter, once they have completed 20 months on their Critical Skills Employment Permit.
• Pending applications. The DBEI stated that foreign nationals awaiting decisions on Stamp 4 applications will not be asked to cease work or leave Ireland.

Impact for foreign nationals

Be advised that this was a generic email distribution, and it does not pertain directly to one’s application. Individuals who have received this email should not be alarmed, and if recipients have queries about a particular application or permit, they should contact their Immigration Consultant directly for advice.

Looking ahead

The Department expects that the delays in Stamp 4 issuance will be resolved by the end of January 2019. Fragomen will publish relevant updates on the situation.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to ireland@fragomen.com.