Visa refusal unfair and discriminatory
My husband takes care of his 92-year-old father and also farms the family land. It was out of the question for him to move to Romania.
Many things have happened in three years. My daughter from a previous relationship is going to school and has integrated very well. We bought a house, and we also have another child, who is almost two.
We are a family in all the normal ways, with problems, with happy moments, like any other family.
However, we are quite isolated and have nobody here, except my husband’s father. Time passed and I got depressed, with nobody to visit me and nobody to go to. I was fighting my depression; I didn’t want to let it take over me and my family.
I can’t go back to Romania. My home is now here, with my family. When my nephew visited last year, for a month, it was a big relief for me.
Then my sister decided to come and visit and I was so happy. She applied for a visa at the Irish Consulate in Bucharest on February 10. After six weeks, she got the answer that her visa was refused (she had all the right papers).
I feel I am being discriminated against. What if an Irish citizen couldn’t visit his family in another country or have his family visit him?
It’s true east European countries have economical problems and a lot of people are seeking work in Ireland but this is not a general rule. Not everyone is coming to work in Ireland. Some are coming to visit and to spend money.
We are decent people. We pay taxes, we have our home and money invested in the bank. I didn’t come here seeking asylum.
My sister is 45 years old. In Romania, she has a family, a job, two houses and two cars, and money in the bank. She was not coming to Ireland to seek work or asylum.
We are from a very decent and respected family. I can’t tell you how humiliated my sister feels now and how helpless I feel. Helpless and furious!
The decision to refuse my sister’s visa is outrageous and I am going to appeal. Have I no rights as the wife of an Irish citizen? And how come the Department of Justice allowed my sister’s son to visit me, but not my sister?
Doina Kelly
62 Chambersland Close
New Ross
Co Wexford
