Visa delays leave Limerick-bound firefighter in limbo

A FIREFIGHTER in Iran has criticised delays in Ireland’s long stay employment visa application system, which he says have left...

A FIREFIGHTER in Iran has criticised delays in Ireland’s long stay employment visa application system, which he says have left him in limbo over a job opportunity in Limerick.

When contacted for comment, the Department of Justice acknowledged that “processing times” on its website “reflect the timeframe for the vast majority of applications and may not reflect individual cases”.

“Some international checks can take a considerable amount of time,” it said.

Firefighter Sajjad Momeni said he fears that contract terms he has agreed with a Limerick firm, in respect of a risk management engineering role offered to him, is in jeopardy.

The 42-year-old is also concerned that a work permit he said he secured 20 months ago, allowing him to work in Ireland, will expire before his visa is decided, voiding his job prospects here.

Mr Momeni showed the Limerick Post a work permit he said he received from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, which stated it is valid from January 30, 2025, to January 29, 2027.

He said he applied for his visa on February 10, 2025; that his supporting documents were received in Tehran on February 27, “and according to the Visa Office, the application reached Dublin on the 24th of March, 2025”.

Momeni, who said he is a qualified emergency response specialist at an oil refinery in Iran, explained that the almost 20-month delay in his visa application has taken a toll on him and his wife, who is an artist in Iran.

“The uncertainty has had a significant impact on our personal lives. My wife and I had planned to move to Ireland and start a new stage of our lives, but without a final decision, we cannot make firm plans for the future,” he said.

Not knowing “where we should be preparing to build our next stage of life, or when that transition might actually happen” has also been frustrating for the family.

“I would be dishonest if I said that such a long period of uncertainty and ongoing stress has had no effect on me,” he said.

“We have been working with a counsellor and have managed some of these challenges, but the uncertainty remains because we simply do not know what our future plans should be.”

Momeni said he received his work permit and applied for his visa well in advance of the US and Israel’s combined recent attacks in Iran and the subsequent downturn in Iran’s economy.

His biggest concern, he said, is not knowing the reason for the delays in his visa publication.

“I genuinely don’t know what is causing the delay, and at this point, all I am really trying to do is understand the reason for it,” Momeni told the Limerick Post.

Momeni, who has a background in petroleum engineering, a Master’s degree in health, safety, and environment management, and experience as a supervisor, trainer, and risk management professional, said he contacted the Visa authorities on numerous occasions but was always told to “continue waiting”.

Cleary flabbergasted, he said: “I am simply asking for clarification as to why my application remains outstanding.”

He also criticised the delays in receiving responses to why his application remained outstanding after so long.

“I have followed up through the official customer service portal around 20 times. The responses have generally taken about a month, and they have usually advised me to continue waiting.

“I have also asked whether any additional documents or information were required from me, but I have not been asked to provide anything further,” Momeni added.

While he did not want to “make assumptions” about others work visa applications, Momeni said he believes the “prolonged uncertainty in employment-based visa applications can affect not only applicants and their families, but also employers who are waiting for people to take up employment”.

“It creates difficulties for the employer as well, as they have to plan their staffing, operations, and workload without knowing when I will be able to start.

“At the same time, they have not been able to easily replace the particular combination of skills and experience they were looking for,” he added.

Momeni said he has contacted politicians in Limerick for help and said his prospective employer here has been “extremely supportive and provided a detailed support letter (to the authorities) explaining the position and the relevance of my experience to the role”.

He said he is “not asking for special treatment or a guaranteed positive decision” but he is seeking “clarity and a final decision”.

“Even if the final decision is not the one I hope for, having a clear and timely decision would allow me, my wife, and my prospective employer to understand what we need to do next and make realistic plans for the future.”

US-Israeli attacks in Iran are also high on his list of concerns, he acknowledged, but said he will continue working in his motherland if his employment prospects in Limerick fall asunder.

“War and economy are certainly major concerns for us, but they are not the only reasons, and it’s true that there is no real economic stability here, but personally, I’m not in a particularly difficult situation,” Momeni said.

“I work for an oil refinery, and I earn more than the average salary (in Iran). So for me, it’s simply not about making more money or escaping a difficult financial situation.

“For me there are other things that matter as well. For several years, I’ve wanted to experience working in a different environment and challenge myself professionally, and I see Ireland as a good opportunity to do that.

“When I applied for my visa, there was no war, and unfortunately, the visa process is taking so long that I am still waiting, and the situation had escalated into a war.”

Moment said that he really likes “the look of Ireland; I’ve developed a very good relationship with my employer; and I have a specific job opportunity there that I’m genuinely interested in. I see it as a chance to develop my career and experience a different way of working.”

A spokesperson at the Department of Justice told the Limerick Post it “does not comment” on individual cases, however, they explained that, generally speaking, “long stay D visa and preclearance applications provide legal avenues for people moving to Ireland for employment, study, and family reasons”.

“Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete,” they said.

“Some international checks can take a considerable amount of time, and these are largely outside of the control of the Department.”

“Applications are generally processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While checks are ongoing on some applications, processing continues on other applications.”

“The processing times on the web site reflect the timeframe for the vast majority of applications and may not reflect individual cases.”

The office of the Honorary Consul of Ireland in Tehran did not reply when asked for comment.