Minister Martin announces that Irish and US citizens can now submit applications for a one year Working Holiday Visa
An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha Preas Ráiteas
Department of Foreign Affairs Press Release
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Minister Martin announces that Irish and US citizens can now submit applications for a one year Working Holiday Visa
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin, T.D., has announced that eligible Irish and US citizens can now begin to apply for one year working visas under the new Ireland-US Working Holiday Agreement.
The Minister said:
"Last September, the US Deputy Secretary of State and I successfully concluded a new Working Holiday Agreement. We have moved without delay to complete the necessary internal procedures and guidelines and I am delighted to confirm that Irish and US citizens can now begin to submit their applications".
Highlighting the key elements of the Programme, the Minister said that it would enable a minimum of 20,000 Irish citizens who are in, or have recently completed, post secondary education to work and travel in the US for up to 12 months and that up to 5,000 US citizens will also be able to work and travel in Ireland on a similar basis.
The Minister emphasised the considerable benefits that the new Programme will bring to the long term health of our relationship with the US. He pointed out:
"By working and travelling for a relatively lengthy period in each others’ countries, our young people will build important connections which will help maintain our very close ties to the US- it represents in a very real way a major investment in the health and strength of this vital relationship".
He highlighted the success of our similar arrangement with Australia-in which over 17,000 Irish people participated last year-and expressed the hope that the US programme would be equally successful.
Minister Martin stressed that this initiative is separate to the Government’s ongoing campaign to find a solution to our undocumented. He said:
"This Programme is just one element in our three pronged approach to reforming our migration arrangements with the US. The Government is determined to push for early progress on the remaining two: a solution for the undocumented Irish; and a new bilateral arrangement which would create reciprocal long term working visas (known as E3s)".
The Minister emphasised that "finding a solution for our undocumented remains a key priority for this Government".
The Minister encouraged all those interested in the new arrangements to log on to the Department’s website- www.dfa.ie for full details on how and where to apply.
Note for the editors:
Information on www.dfa.ie
On 24 September 2008, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D., signed a major new agreement with the US Government that will enable Irish and US citizens to work and travel in each other countries for up to 12 months. The agreement reflects not only the close historical and cultural links between Ireland and the United States of America, but also the vibrancy of the modern economic and commercial relationship between our countries.
In order to qualify for the programme participants should be either in post-secondary education or have recently graduated (i.e. within 12 months).
This new programme will not effect the operation of the highly successful Student Work and Travel programme which permits students from the US and Ireland to work and travel for several months every summer. This J1 programme will continue to exist as a separate, more limited programme.
HOW TO APPLY?
US citizens
US citizens wishing to travel to Ireland under the terms of the agreement should make an application for a US Working Holiday Authorisation at the Embassy of Ireland in Washington or the Consulates General of Ireland in Boston, Chicago, New York and San Francisco. Please click here for contact details.
A completed and signed application form (PDF 35kb) should be presented at the Embassy of Ireland in Washington, or at one of the Irish Consulates General in Boston, Chicago, New York or San Francisco together with:
Valid United States passport;
2 recent identical passport photographs with your name on the reverse;
Current curriculum vitae (with references);
Original bank statement showing that you have access to €1,500 (or equivalent) plus a return ticket; or €3,000 (or equivalent);
Originals of any qualifications obtained or letter from school/college/university (where applicable)
The relevant fee of €250 or dollar equivalent as advised by the relevant Mission;
Once the Embassy or Consulate General is satisfied with the documentation above, the application will be approved in principle and the applicant notified. The Working Holiday Authorisation will be issued on submission by the applicant of:
Return airline tickets;
Certificate of medical/travel insurance valid for the duration of the trip (based on dates on tickets)
Valid United States passport that is valid for the entirety of the trip to Ireland ie for a full year after their ticketed date of entry.
Irish citizens
Irish citizens wishing to travel to the US should consult the website of the US Embassy in Dublin for detailed information http://dublin.usembassy.gov/ .
The US government has in place a two step application process for this scheme. Applicants must first apply to an authorised sponsoring organisation to be issued with a form DS-2019, and once that document has been issued they should apply to the US Embassy for the relevant visa. A full list of the authorised sponsoring organisations is available on the website of the US Embassy.
Some sponsoring organisations will specifically focus on the Irish scheme, such as the Boston Irish Immigrant Centre - www.iicenter.org . In order to assist Irish citizens interested in participating in this scheme links to other organisations focussing specifically on the Irish scheme will be added here as and when details are confirmed
Irish citizens wishing to travel to the US should contact an appropriate sponsoring organisation or the US Embassy in Dublin directly for further information about this scheme.
Ends+++
13 January 2009
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