Why does Irish visa require so much paperwork? [closed]

My Ukrainian friend, living and working in Germany is applying for an Irish visa for a 5-day trip. She has an invitation letter from an Irish citizen. The Embassy required her to send these by post:

online application form
her passport (the original)
copy of her German Residence permit
the invitation letter
copy of the host's passport
her full bank statements for last 6 months (they rejected statements printed from online banking, they want them to be on "official bank paper")
her German rent contract
her employment contract
an additional confirmation from her employer that she actually works there and has enough vacation days for the trip
they seem to still require more and more stuff.

I find this amount of documentation ridiculous for such a short trip. I would perhaps expect a process like this for an US visa, but this is actually harder than getting an US travel visa. I'm trying to understand this. I'm wondering, maybe there's some justification for this? Why is Ireland's immigration policy so strict?

Best Answer

The EU has freedem of travel, work, and residence for EU citizens. Some of them wanted to make things even easier for EU citizens, so they decided on the Schengen agreement. EU citizens are allowed to cross internal Schengen borders without routine passport controls.

Of course it is impossible to remove passport controls for EU citizens only (they'd have to prove their citizenship to show that they don't have to show their passport). So they extended the Schengen provisions to visitors as well and unified their visa policies.

The ease of travel within Schengen is an anomaly, not a normal situation.

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How long does Ireland visa processing take?

The Ireland visa processing time is about eight weeks. However, depending on the specific case, it could take longer or even shorter, so be sure to apply well before your planned trip.

What if Ireland visa gets rejected?

If your visa application is refused, you will receive a letter from the visa office telling you why it has been refused and if you can appeal the decision. There are steps to follow when making an appeal and certain conditions may apply.

What documents are required for Irish visa?

When you submit an Ireland visa application, you must have the following documents:

Ireland Visa Application Form.
A valid passport.
Passport-sized pictures.
Proof you have paid the Ireland visa fee.
Proof of legal residence in the country from which you are applying.
Letter about your purpose of travel.

What can stop me from getting a visa?

Factors that Can Make a Person Ineligible for a Visa

Health-Related Situations. The United States has specific requirements for people wishing to enter the country. ...

Criminal Situations. Convictions of certain crimes can prevent a person from gaining a visa. ...

Security-Related Situations. ...

Contact a Lombard Immigration Lawyer.

Why My Visa Got Rejected by the Irish Embassy? | My Visa Rejection Story | Study In Ireland

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