“Everyone coming here from outside the EU is facing the same issue. I sometimes feel employers here don’t know about the student visa, they just understand Stamp 4 is best.”
- An Indian student, Apurva Jain, Irish Times
In recent months, we have received many queries from foreign nationals living in Ireland who have faced difficulties in securing employment. The majorities of these clients are Stamp 1G holders who have graduated from their degree or master program from an Irish university.
The Department of Justice’s visa system offers graduates from a Third-Level Graduate Programme a Stamp 1G permission for one year or two years. This is an opportunity period where the candidates can seek a full-time and long-term job. The aim for most Stamp 1G holders is to secure a job that enables them to apply for either a Critical Skills Employment Permit or a General Employment Permit. This will transfer the candidate to a Stamp 1 which will open the pathway towards Stamp 4 (long-term residence). It is important to note that in order to apply for an employment permit, the employer needs to support the application by providing information and supporting documents.
However, we have increasingly heard stories of Stamp 1G holders who have been working with an employer for the past year, when their Stamp 1G expires, the employer is hesitant to support their employment permit application and renew their visa. The main reason being that the company is confused about the visa information and have the misconception that they might run into the risk of hiring a candidate without a visa.
There was one case where a candidate has been working with a firm in Dublin for nearly a year on Stamp 1G. She has met the criteria for critical skills employment permit. When the candidate requested the company to assist with her Critical Skills Employment Permit, the company refused to offer support, but at the same time demanded the candidate to secure a working visa before she can continue to work in the company. Of course, the candidate was left with no choice but to leave the company, in search of another employer who will support her.
This is not a new problem. In a 2019 article in the Irish Times, an Indian student Apurva Jain shared her struggles when she was job hunting with a Stamp 1G.
“Whenever I apply for a job the first thing an employer asks for is a Stamp 4 or EU citizenship. Sometimes I’m not even considered for the position and it’s very disheartening. I don’t get a chance to showcase what I can do. How can they judge me if they don’t meet me?
“Everyone coming here from outside the EU is facing the same issue. I sometimes feel employers here don’t know about the student visa, they just understand Stamp 4 is best.”
As an immigration consultancy company that specialises in employment permit, Future Direct commit to spreading awareness on the issues that face the expatriate community and the labour market in Ireland.
If you are an employer and you are unsure about the work permit and visa procedures for your employees, feel free to get in touch with us.
If you are a candidate and you are unsure how to discuss this with your employer, please feel free to call us today at +353 872400433 or email info@futuredirect.ie. We will advise you on the best way to handle your particular set of circumstances.